Method of using trajectory guide

ABSTRACT

A surgical method and apparatus for accurately aligning the trajectory of, guiding of, and introducing or withdrawal of an instrument is disclosed. The apparatus includes a base which has a movable member movably attached to the base. The movable member has a passage therein which forms a portion of the trajectory path. A positioning stem further includes a first locator and a second locator. The first and second locators are associated with two different portions of the positioning stem so that they are essentially two points on a line. The first and second locators are also locatable by a scanning or imaging system. The positioning stem is removably attached to said movable member and used to position the movable member. Moving the movable member also moves the passage therein to different trajectories. Once the passage within the movable member more or less is aligned with a target within the body, a locking member locks the movable member into a fixed position. The movable member can be moved to different trajectories using a first hydraulic system. A second hydraulic system can be used to introduce or withdraw an instrument to or from the patient. A mechanical advancement tool can be substituted for the second hydraulic system. The surgical instrument may also be provided with a remote portion for controlling the instrument from a remote location. The instrument can also be computer controlled.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No.09/078,913 entitled Remote Actuation Of Trajectory Guide, filed on May14, 1998, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,993,463, which in turn is acontinuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/058,092entitled Trajectory Guide Method and Apparatus for use in MagneticResonance and Computerized Tomographic Scanners”, filed on Apr. 9, 1998,now U.S. Pat. No. 6,267,769, which in turn is a continuation-in-part ofU.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/919,649 entitled “SurgicalInstrument Trajectory Guide Method and Apparatus”, filed on Aug. 28,1997, now abandoned, which in turn is a continuation-in-part of U.S.patent application Ser. No. 08/856,664 entitled “Surgical InstrumentTrajectory Guide Method and Apparatus”, filed on May 15, 1997, nowabandoned.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is related to surgical working platforms. Morespecifically, the present invention relates to a working platform andmethod for using the same which facilitates the alignment of surgicaland observational instruments into a patient.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In the treatment of some diseases or defects associated with a patient,it has been found necessary to access specific targets within a patient.In the treatment of some diseases of or defects of human beings, it hasbeen found necessary to access specific portions of the brain. Currentlythere are several methods for inserting surgical and observationalinstruments into a patient's brain.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,055,370 issued to McKinney et al. shows one currentlyused method for placing a surgical instrument to access a specificportion of the brain. The surgical instrument of the '370 patentincludes a ball which has a bore. The direction of the bore can bechanged. The instrument has an elongated tube of a specific length. Astylet is inserted within the tube to access the globus pallidus andperform a pallidotomy. An opening or burr hole is made in the skull at aspecific landmark on the skull. Next, X-rays are taken in thefore-and-aft (AP) and lateral positions, and the line of the bar isprojected downwardly by a ruler both in the fore-and-aft (AP) andlateral positions, so that the direction of the needle can be determinedbefore it is inserted. When the direction of the longitudinal axis ofthe tubular member is determined to be satisfactory, a holder isthreaded further into a tap to force a surface against a ball and lock atubular member into place. Alignment of the trajectory is not measurablealong a specific line occurring at the intersection of two planes.Alignment is dependent on placement of the burr hole at a specificlocation to determine one plane. X-rays are used to determine anotherplane-based use of common landmarks on the skull. The end result is thatan educated guess is being used to position the stylet at the globuspallidus for the pallidotomy. One shortcoming with the method of usingX-ray imaging to direct a surgical or observational instrument, is thatmany of the destinations within a patient are not viewable via X-ray.Another shortcoming relates to the slight shifting of intracranialcontents, once a burr hole is placed and the dura and arachnoid arepenetrated. Once cerebrospinal fluid is released via the burr hole, theintracranial contents (i.e. brain) may shift one or more millimeters. Insuch a case, the calculated trajectory is no longer accurate. Hence,there is an inherent inaccuracy with the described scheme.

Several other methods are also used to place instruments, catheters, orobservational tools into patients. Currently, surgical procedures areperformed through craniotomy flaps or craniotomy burr holes. A burr holeof about 14 mm is made in the skull. Needles or probes are typicallypassed through the burr hole into the brain using famed stereotaxy,frameless stereotaxy or freehand without stereotaxy.

The freehand method depends very heavily on the knowledge and judgmentof the surgeon. In the freehand method, the surgeon determines theinsertion point with a couple of measurements from a known landmark. Thesurgeon then looks at the measured point, makes adjustments, determinesthe angle of insertion and then inserts the surgical instrument or tool.

In framed stereotaxy, a ring frame is mounted to the patient's skull bymultiple (typically three or four) pins or screws. This ring frame isused to determine a three dimensional data set. From this data set,Cartesian coordinates are calculated for both the lesion, the locationof the pins or screws, and the fiducial marks on the frame. The ringframe fits into a large frame. A large frame is then attached to thepatient in the operating suite. The large frame provides known positionsand guides the surgical or observational instruments. The large frame isused to position the instrument to be introduced into the patientthrough a burr hole so that it intersects the target. In framelessstereotaxy, the ring frame is replaced with several markings on thepatient's skull which can be used to determine several known positions.The large frame is replaced by a camera. The camera is usually infraredor some such device. Multiple sensors readable by the camera are placedon the instrument For example, the surgical instrument or tool isprovided with one or more light emitting diodes (“LEDs”) which aretracked by the camera. The position of the surgical instrument can becalculated from the information from the LEDs on the surgical instrumentor observational tool.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,955,891 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,805,615, both issued toCarol, each discuss the use of stereotaxy surgery with computerizedtomographic (“CT”) scanning. CT scanning is used to determine the exactposition of a lesion or specific portion of the brain. After the exactposition of the lesion or specific portion of the brain is determined, aphantom fixture is setup. The phantom fixture replicates the position ofthe ring frame on the patient. A phantom target is set up. Theinstrument can then be positioned on the phantom such that it intersectsthe target. The information from the phantom can then be used inactually positioning the instrument in the operating suite.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,998,938 issued to Ghajar et al. shows another surgicaldevice for facilitating the insertion of an instrument into a patient'scranial cavity through a burr hole. The device includes a guide havingan end configured to pass into the burr hole. There is a separatelocking member. A body member includes alignment markings to help withinsertion of a catheter or stylet. Unlike the '370 patent, there is nomovable member for adjusting the path of the guide.

The methods currently in use all have a number of shortcomings. Most ofthe techniques currently used to place a surgical instrument orobservational tool within a patient employ a limited amount of accuracy.In particular, current framed, frameless, and freehand methods computeor predict trajectories on the basis of imaging data or anatomiclandmarks that do not account for the slight, but real shifting of thebrain upon opening the cranium and meninges to the level of thesubarachnoid space. This inherent inaccuracy inherently limits thesuccess of these various methodologies. In other words, these systems donot use any means of updating the data files to include data obtainedfollowing the placement of a surgical burr hole and opening of themeninges. In addition, all the methods require large amounts of judgmenton the part of the surgeon placing the surgical instrument or tool andin particular, offer no direct feedback on the success or failure of thetrajectory to reach the target. Very few of the techniques use animaging or scanning apparatus to aid in the placement of the surgicalinstrument or observational tool. The only one that does requires aphantom frame and target to be set up to simulate the real geometry. Inshort, none of the apparatuses appear to use an imaging or scanningapparatus as extensively as they could be used to minimize the time andeffort needed to accurately place a surgical instrument into a patient,and to offer immediate data on the success or failure of the trajectoryto reach the target.

Still another disadvantage is that the apparatuses used today are notremotely controlled or actuated. In some operating environments, thepatient is not accessible to the surgeon. Therefore, it is advantageousto have remote control of the tool. One such environment is within an MRmagnet associated with an MR operating suite. When the patient is in anopen magnet, the surgeon may have direct access to the patient. When ina closed magnet, the surgeon probably will not have such direct accessto the patient.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A surgical method and apparatus for accurately aligning the trajectoryof, guiding of; and introducing or withdrawal of an instrument isdisclosed The apparatus includes a base which has a movable membermovably attached to the base. The movable member has a passage thereinwhich forms a portion of the trajectory path. The movable member alsoincludes a guide stem which has an opening therein. The guide stem isattached to said movable member such that the opening in the guide stemsubstantially aligns with the passage in the movable member. The movablemember can include either an integral guide stem for holding thepositioning stem or a removably attached guide stem. In the case of theformer, a positioning stem is inserted into the opening of the guidestem for purposes of trajectory alignment. In the case of the latter,the removably attached guide stem can be removed and replaced with apositioning stem.

A positioning stem further includes a first locator and a secondlocator. The first and second locators are associated with two differentportions of the positioning stem so that they are essentially two pointson a line. The first and second locators are also locatable by ascanning or imaging system. The positioning stem is either inserted intothe guide stem that is integral to the movable member, or is removablyattached to said movable member and used to position the movable member.Moving the positioning stem while either within the guide stem orremovably attached to the movable member also moves the passage thereinto different trajectories. Once the passage within the movable membermore or less is aligned with a target within the body, a locking memberlocks the movable member into a fixed position.

In one embodiment the first locator and the second locator are readableby a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus. The locator can include afluid readable by a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus or a source ofradio frequency, such as a coil, which is readable by a magneticresonance imaging apparatus. In the latter embodiment, the first andsecond locators may be small radio frequency (RF) coils that detect anelectromagnetic signal in a magnetic resonance imaging environment. Theelectromagnetic signal detected can be used to locate the first andsecond locators. The line formed by the first locator and the secondlocator may be substantially aligned with the centerline of the passagein the movable member or may be offset from the centerline of passage inthe movable member. In other embodiments, the first and second locatorsmay be light emitting diodes which are readable by an infrared camera.

The first and second locators may be located within an essentially solidplastic positioning stem, or in another embodiment, the first and secondlocators may be located within an MR-visible chamber within thepositioning stem. In the latter embodiment, the chamber may be filledwith an MR-visible fluid (paramagnetic, for example), which can be usedto afford a first approximation of alignment. The first and secondlocators may be either MR-visible (different than the MR-visiblechamber) or may be MR-invisible, in which case they would exhibit anegative image against the background of the MR-visible fluid within thelarger chamber of the positioning stem. Advantageously, the fluid in thechamber produces an image which can be easily located and can be used toroughly align the positioning stem. The MR-visible or MR-invisible fluidof the first and second locators can then be used for fine or precisealignment.

In the embodiment where the guide stem and positioning stems areremovably attached to the movable member, the movable member can includea threaded opening which receives either the guide stem or thepositioning stem. In this embodiment where the guide stem isinterchangeable with the positioning stem, one end of both the guidestem and positioning stem is threaded. A portion of the passage in themovable member has internal threads for receiving the threaded end ofeither the guide stem or the positioning stem. In the embodiment wherethe guide stem is formed as part of the movable member, the positioningstem fits within the opening in the guide stem. The movable member is aball capable of swiveling with respect to the base.

In another embodiment, the movable member may also include a stage whichallows for planar movement in a direction intersecting the trajectory. Asurgical instrument, such as a needle, probe (cryotherapy probe, laserprobe, RF ablation probe, microwave interstitial therapy probe, orfocused ultrasound therapy probe), catheter, endoscope, or electrode,can then be inserted through the movable member and the opening in saidguide stem to guide the instrument toward the target position within thepatient. In this embodiment, it is possible to reposition the surgicalinstrument without altering the trajectory itself, by first withdrawingit from the targeted tissue and then adjusting the stage in a directionintersecting the trajectory.

It is advantageous to have the trajectory guide operable from a remotelocation. Among the advantages is that the patient will not have to bemoved in and out of an environment in order to make adjustments to thetrajectory guide. Adjustments or use of the trajectory guide does nothave to be interrupted when used in an environment where a surgeon ortechnician does not have access to the trajectory guide on the patient.This shortens the time spent for the surgical procedure which isappreciated by both the surgeon or technician as well as the patient. Itshould also be noted that the trajectory guide is also adaptable toother environments such as for use in a CT scan environment. In CTscanning, x-radiation is used in order to form the images. Overexposureto x-rays is harmful to patients who are undergoing procedures.Overexposure to x-rays is a concern to surgeons or technicians whoperform these procedures. Therefore, it is advantageous to have thecapability to maneuver the trajectory guide from a remote location sothat the procedure can be done in a shorter amount of time and so thatthe physicians and technicians that may be using the trajectory guidecan keep exposure to various imaging environments to a minimum.

In a first preferred embodiment of a remotely controlled trajectoryguide, there is the actual trajectory guide and a remote trajectoryguide. The remote trajectory guide is a duplicate of the actualtrajectory guide. The remote trajectory guide has the same look and feelas the actual trajectory guide so that the surgeon or technician used tousing the actual guide can move the remote guide as if it was the actualguide attached to the patient The objective is to make the movement ofthe remote feel as though it was the actual guide. In this way, once thephysician surgeon or the technician learns to use the actual guide theydo not have to learn how to use the remote device. In the firstembodiment, the tilt or trajectory defined by the trajectory guide andthe advancement and of the surgical instrument is provided for by usinga mechanical device using a cable or filament.

In a second preferred embodiment of a remotely controlled trajectoryguide, a first hydraulic cylinder and a second hydraulic cylindercontrol actuators which may be used to position the positioning member.Once so positioned and after the movable member locked is locked,thereby also locking in the trajectory, the first and second hydrauliccylinder control actuators may be removed. A third hydraulic cylinderand actuator may then be used to control the insertion or withdrawal ofan instrument. The hydraulic cylinders are especially useful forpositioning the movable member and inserting or withdrawing theinstrument when the patient is positioned remotely from the surgeon.Although many scanning devices allow access to a patient, there are manystyles of scanning devices that do not allow access to the patientduring a scanning operation. For example, in an MRI type scanningdevice, the magnet producing the magnetic field can be of severalshapes. Some of the magnets are shaped such that a patient must bepositioned out of reach of the surgeon in order to be within thehomogeneous imaging volume of the magnetic field during a scanningoperation.

In operation, a target within a patient is initially selected. Asurgical opening into the body is made and the base is inserted into andsurgically secured to the opening. The movable member and outer lockingring are also removably attached to the base. The positioning stem isthen used to move the movable member and the passage therein to form atrajectory toward the target. The first locator portion and the secondlocator portion are read by the scanning device to determine thetrajectory represented by the line of the positioning stem. Thepositioning stem is moved until the line represented by the positioningstem intersects the selected target. The positioning stem can be movedmanually or by using the first hydraulic cylinder and actuator, and thesecond hydraulic cylinder and actuator. The line of the positioning stemmay also be offset from the target in an alternate embodiment. Ofcourse, the determination of the position of the first and secondportions of the positioning stem is performed at least in part by thecentral processing unit and the memory of the scanning device. Oncealignment is indicated, the movable member is locked into position whichlocks the trajectory represented by the positioning stem. Thepositioning stem is then removed either from the guide stem that isintegral to the movable member, or, when the guide stem is not integralwith the movable member, from the movable member itself. In the lattercase, a guide stem is then attached to the movable member. The openingin the guide stem and the substantially aligned passage in the movablemember form a trajectory in line with the selected target. Theinstrument is passed therethrough.

The third hydraulic cylinder and associated actuator can be used tocontrol insertion or withdrawal of the instrument, if remote operationis desirable. Insertion or withdrawal can also be done manually. Insituations where the target may be quite small, if the surgicalinstrument, upon successfully reaching the quite small target, revealsthat the target selected, due to anatomic variance, is indeed not thetrue target, repositioning of the surgical instrument can be made bymeans of a slight offset. In such a situation, a stage can be moved sothat a parallel trajectory can be followed. In such a situation, it maybe advantageous and safer to employ a stage in order to minimizesurgical trauma to the tissues.

The opening within the movable member and guide stem (whether integralto the movable member or removably attached) are designed to accommodatesurgical instruments and observational tools. As there is a wide varietyof different surgical instruments and observational tools, it isanticipated that multiple movable members and guide stems with openingsof different diameter for such a wide array of surgical instruments andobservational tools will be employed. In addition, in the case of aguide stem that is integral to the movable member, additionalpositioning stems of similar diameters to fit appropriately into theguide stems will be employed.

Advantageously, the scanning device used for diagnostic purposes can beemployed to place an instrument within the body of a patient. There isno need for framed stereotaxy or unframed stereotaxy, two procedureswhich require large amounts of time to perform. Procedures that formerlyrequired many hours can now be performed in substantially less amountsof time with the trajectory guide. Time is saved over framed or unframedstereotaxy since there is no need to spend time placing a frame onto thepatient or calculating the location of several selected points beforethe actual introduction of a surgical instrument. The procedure is notonly quicker, but provides for real time feedback as the surgicalinstrument progresses into the body. The computer associated with thescanning device also calculates the trajectory to determine if the linedefined by the first locator and the second locator is collinear withthe trajectory.

The surgical instrument can also be used in other applications without afirst and second locator. For example, the movable member with a passagecan be held by a clamp to guide catheters and other surgical instrumentsinto the human body. The clamp includes a pair of cups for holding themovable member. The clamp is spring loaded so that it engages themovable member when the clamp is not held open. Several of the clampscan be held above a patient by individual snake devices or by a supportbar that holds a plurality of clamps. A plate that holds several movablemembers can also be held above the patient or even attached to a patientto provide a platform from which to pass one or more surgicalinstruments through corresponding movable members. Such arrangements canbe used for any type of surgery where it is advantageous to use rigid orflexible type surgical instruments, particularly as might be used inminimally-invasive surgical procedures. The trajectory defined by thetrajectory guide and the advancement of the surgical instrument can becontrolled from outside the scanning environment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.

For a better understanding of the present invention, reference may bemade to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a patient scanning system.

FIG. 2 is a side view of a patient on which the trajectory guide isbeing used.

FIG. 3 is an exploded isometric view of the trajectory guide with aremovably attached guide member installed.

FIG. 4 is an exploded isometric view of the trajectory guide with aremovably attached positioning member installed.

FIG. 5a is a top view of the movable member or ball of the trajectoryguide.

FIG. 5b is a side view of the movable member or ball of the trajectoryguide.

FIG. 6a is a side view of the base of the trajectory guide.

FIG. 6b is a top view of the base of the trajectory guide.

FIG. 7a is a top view of the locking member of the trajectory guide.

FIG. 7b is a cutaway side view of the locking member of the trajectoryguide, along line 7 b—7 b of FIG. 7a.

FIG. 8 is an exploded view showing a stage for attachment to the base ofthe trajectory guide.

FIG. 9 is a cutaway side view of another preferred embodiment of themovable member of the trajectory guide and a positioning stem.

FIG. 10 is a side view of a hydraulic actuator used to move the guidestem of the trajectory guide.

FIG. 11 is a top view of a guide stem of a trajectory guide having twohydraulic actuators attached to the guide stem.

FIG. 12 is an isometric view of a first clamp for holding a hydrauliccylinder.

FIG. 13 is an isometric view of a first clamp for holding a hydrauliccylinder.

FIG. 14 is an exploded isometric view of the first clamp and the secondclamp for holding a hydraulic cylinder onto a surgical instrument and atrajectory guide.

FIG. 15 is an attachment including a RF coil for the base.

FIG. 16 is a cap for the attachment shown in FIG. 15.

FIG. 17 is an side view of an alternate embodiment of a guide stem forthe trajectory guide.

FIG. 18 is view of an image as seen on a display of a nuclear magneticimaging system.

FIG. 19 is a remotely controlled actuator mechanism used to controlmovement of the movable member associated with the patient.

FIG. 20 shows the set of intermediary hydraulic rams used tointerconnect the movable member associated with the patient and themovable member associated with remote control.

FIG. 21 is a flow chart of the software program used to control movementof the movable member.

FIG. 22 is a flow chart of the process for performing a surgicalprocedure through a small opening within the body.

FIG. 23 is a top view of a surgical instrument for holding a movablemember.

FIG. 24 is a top view of a snake clamp for holding a movable member.

FIG. 25 is a top view of a platform or bar which holds a plurality ofsurgical instruments.

FIG. 26 is a top view of a plate which includes a plurality of movablemembers attached to a pair of ribs.

FIG. 27 is a top view of a surgical instrument designed to grip or beheld within a burr hole a patient's skull.

FIG. 28 shows a top view of a doublet instrument which is a combinationof the instrument of FIG. 23 and a combination of the instrument shownin FIG. 27.

FIG. 29 shows a side view of a doublet instrument which is a combinationof the instrument of FIG. 23 and a combination of the instrument shownin FIG. 27.

FIG. 30 shows a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of amechanical remotely actuated trajectory guide mechanism.

FIG. 31 is a perspective view of one of the first or second trajectoryguides used as part of the mechanical remotely actuated trajectory guidemechanism shown in FIG. 30.

FIG. 32 is a top view of the base of the trajectory guide used as partof the mechanical remotely actuated trajectory guide mechanism.

FIG. 33 is a side view of the guide stem of the trajectory guide used aspart of the mechanical remotely actuated trajectory guide mechanism.

FIG. 34 is a top view of the locking member of the trajectory guide usedas part of the mechanical remotely actuated trajectory guide mechanism.

FIG. 35 is a top view of the guide stem cable mount of the trajectoryguide used as part of the mechanical remotely actuated trajectory guidemechanism.

FIG. 36 is an exploded perspective view of the mechanical remotelyactuated trajectory guide mechanism with the spacing sleeve for spacingthe surgical instrument advance mechanism up the guide stem.

FIG. 37 is an exploded perspective view of the surgical instrumentadvance mechanism for use with the mechanical remotely actuatedtrajectory guide mechanism.

FIG. 38 is a side view of a patient on which an externalizer andtrajectory guide are being used.

FIG. 39 is an exploded isometric view of the trajectory guide with anexternalizer and a removably attached guide member installed.

FIG. 40 is an exploded isometric view of the trajectory guide with anexternalizer and a removably attached positioning member installed.

FIG. 41a is a side view of the base of the trajectory guide.

FIG. 41b is a top view of the base of the trajectory guide.

FIG. 42 is an isometric view of another preferred embodiment of thetrajectory guide.

FIG. 43 is a block diagram of a computerized tomographic type patientscanning system.

FIG. 44 is an isometric view of another preferred embodiment of thetrajectory guide having arched positioning bails.

FIG. 45 is an isometric view of yet another preferred embodiment of thetrajectory guide having arched positioning bails.

FIG. 46 is a flow chart indicating the steps in using the trajectoryguide in a CT scanning environment

FIG. 47 is a side view of the positioning stem of the trajectory guidewhich includes light-emitting diodes.

FIG. 48 is a top view of a burr hole extension apparatus.

FIG. 49 is a side view of the burr hole extension apparatus shown inFIG. 10.

FIG. 50 is a top view of another embodiment of the burr hole extensionapparatus.

FIG. 51 is an end view of a patient positioned within a magnet having abody type trajectory guide attached thereto.

FIG. 52 is a side view of a patient positioned within a magnet having abody type trajectory guide attached thereto.

FIG. 53 is a side view of a body type trajectory guide.

FIG. 54 is a cutaway side view of the body type trajectory guide.

FIG. 55 is a top view of the body type trajectory guide.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT

In the following detailed description of the embodiment, reference ismade to the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof, and in whichis shown by way of illustration specific preferred embodiments in whichthe invention may be practiced. These embodiments are described insufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice theinvention, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may beutilized and that structural, logical and electrical changes may be madewithout departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in alimiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is defined onlyby the appended claims.

This application incorporates the following US applications byreference:

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/919,649 entitled “SurgicalInstrument Trajectory Guide Method and Apparatus”, filed on Aug. 28,1997;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/856,664 entitled “SurgicalInstrument Trajectory Guide Method and Apparatus”, filed on May 15,1997; and

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 091058,092 entitled “Trajectory GuideMethod and Apparatus for use in Magnetic Resonance and ComputerizedTomographic Scanners”, filed on Apr. 9, 1998.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a patient scanning system 100. The specificscanning system shown is for a magnetic resonance imaging (“MRI”)system. An MRI scanning system 100 includes a computer 102. The computer102 includes a central processing unit (“CPU”) 104 and memory 106. TheCPU 104 and memory 106 has the capacity to perform multiple calculationsused to determine images as well as positions of various organs, orportions or within an image field. The computer 102 controls an imagedata processing portion 110, a system controller and wave form generatorportion 120, and an XYZ gradient producing portion 130. The XYZgradients are amplified and used to provide a gradient magnetic field inthe X, Y, and Z directions as part of a magnet system 140. The magnetsystem 140 includes a magnet which produces a magnetic field throughwhich a patient can pass. The shape of the magnet varies among MRIsystems. The shape of the magnet and its relation to the table uponwhich the patient lies, determines whether the patient can be accessedby a surgeon while an MRI is being performed. There are many styles ofMRI devices that do not place the surgeon within a close enoughproximity to allow access to the patient during an MRI scan operation.

The MRI system 100 also includes gradient amplifier 150. Also includedare a set of RF amplifiers 160 and RF coils 162 which are used in 10conjunction with the magnet system 140 to produce and transmit RF pulsesin the magnetic field. Either the same RF coil or another RF coil isused to detect the MR signals from the interrogated tissues. Thisdetected MR signal is then amplified by a preamplifier 164 and receivedby a receiver 166 for transmission to the data acquisition system 170and then transmitted to the image data processing computer system 110.The data acquisition system is input to the system controllers andwaveform generator portion 120 of the computer 102 as part of a feedbackloop. The data is interpreted and placed on a display 180 associatedwith the computer of the MRI system 100. The computer 102 and the CPU104 and memory 106 can use data acquired from the MRI system 100 tobuild up images of a portion of the patient which is being scanned. Theimages are typically referred to as slices. For example, a horizontalslice and a vertical slice can be made of the portion of the body orpatient being imaged The computer can also recalculate and build otherslices for use by doctors and radiologists having any selectedorientation needed to facilitate study of various items within apatient. For example, lesions can be found within the body as well ascertain organs. Different slices can be requested to facilitate study ofthese targets. From the data acquired, the position of the lesions ororgans can also be very accurately determined using a Cartesian or polarcoordinate system. The above description of the MR scanner is simply fordemonstrative purposes and multiple alternative MR scanning systems canbe described herein.

Within some parts of a patient, it is critical to very accurately placea surgical instrument. For example, in neurosurgery, it is very criticalto have instruments, such as catheters or needles, placed veryaccurately within the cranium or head of a patient. FIG. 2 shows a sideview of a patient on which trajectory guide 200 is being used. Thetrajectory guide 200 includes abase unit 210, a movable member 220, alocking member 230 and a guide stem 240. The base unit 210 is attachedto the skull of the patient. In the particular embodiment shown, theattachment is made by way of bone screws. However, it is contemplated,that there may be any number of ways to attach the base 210 to theskull. For example, the base 210 could also be threaded to screw into aburr hole 250. The flange could also be added to the base 210 to attachthe base to the skull.

The movable member 220 has a passage therein 222 which is shown in FIG.2 as dotted lines. The guide stem 240 also has an elongated opening 242therein. The opening 242 is also shown as dotted lines in FIG. 2. Thepassage 242 in the guide stem 240 and the opening 222 in the movablemember or ball 220 form a line or a trajectory 260 which intersects witha target 270 within the patient. The guide stem 240 and movable memberor ball 220 form the first part of the trajectory 260. A surgicalinstrument or observational tool can be inserted into the opening 242 ofthe guide stem 240 and passed through the passage in the movable member220 and then further inserted into the patient a selected distance tothe target 270. The opening 242 in the guide stem 240 and the passage222 in the movable member 220 guide a surgical instrument along thetrajectory 260 to the target 270. Of course, the movable member 220 islocked into place by locking member 230 before a surgical instrument 280is placed through the opening 242 in the guide member 240.

FIG. 3 shows an exploded isometric view of the trajectory guide 200 witha guide member installed. As shown in FIG. 3, the trajectory guide 200is comprised of a base 210, a movable member 220, a locking member 230,and a guide member 240. The base 210 includes a cylindrical portion 212and a flange 214. The flange 214 includes a plurality of countersunkscrew openings 215, 216, and 217. The countersunk screw openings 215,216, and 217 receive bone screws which are screwed into the skull boneor the bone of a patient. The cylindrical portion 212 fits withing theburr hole 250 in the patient. The base also includes a semi-sphericalseat 218. Although not shown in FIG. 3, there is an opening in the base210 having a first end which terminates at the seat 218 and another endwhich terminates at the bottom of the base 210.

As shown in FIG. 3, the movable member 220 is essentially a sphericalmember or a ball. The spherical member or ball fits within the seat 218.The spherical member or ball moves freely within the seat 218. Theball-shaped movable member 220 also has an opening therein 222. Theopening passes through the ball shaped movable member. One end of theopening may have a set of internal threads therein, which can be used toreceive mating threads which are placed onto the guide stem or member240 or positioning stem (discussed with respect to FIG. 4).

The locking member 230 also has an opening therethrough. The lockingmember 230 includes a cylindrical bottom portion 232 and a flange 234.The opening through the locking member 230 has sufficient space to allowmovement of movable member 220 when the locking member is in an unlockedor untightened position. Although not shown in FIG. 4, the bottom of thecylindrical portion 232 of the locking member 230 includes a set ofinternal threads. The set of internal threads engage a set of externalthreads on the base unit 210 (shown in FIG. 7b). As will be detailedlater, when the internal threads of the locking member 230 are engagedwith the threads on the base 210, a portion of the locking memberengages the movable member 220 to fix the movable member and the passage222 therethrough at a fixed position.

A guide stem or guide member 240 is also shown in FIG. 3. The guide stemhas an elongated opening 242 therein. The elongated opening passesthrough the length of the guide stem 240. One end of the guide stemincludes a set of external threads which engage the internal threads ofthe spherical, movable member 220. When the external threads of theguide stem 240 engage the internal threads of the movable member 220,the opening 242 is substantially aligned with the passage 222 in themovable member. The opening 242 and passage 222 form the first part orguide for the trajectory 260 to the target 270 within the patient. Itshould be noted that the movable member 220 need not necessarily be aspherical element, although the spherical shape allows the ball to havea universal joint type swivel action which is preferred. It should alsobe noted that the movable element 220 and the guide stem 240 can beformed as one piece. This would eliminate the need for the threaded endof the guide stem 240 and the threaded inner diameter 222 of the movablemember 220.

In addition, the locking member 230 can be formed in most any shape. Aflange 234 is useful in that it allows additional leverage fortightening or loosening the locking member. Any shape capable of beingturned or placed into a locking position with respect to the movablemember 220 is acceptable.

Positioning Member

Now turning to FIG. 4, an exploded isometric view of the trajectoryguide 200 with a positioning member 400 is shown. Many of the parts ofthe trajectory guide 200 shown in FIG. 4 are the same as those shown inFIG. 3. In the interest of time, a discussion of the common elementswill not be repeated. Several of the basic elements will be numbered forthe purposes of this discussion. The difference between FIGS. 3 and 4 isthat the guide stem or guide member 240 has been replaced with apositioning stem. The positioning stem 400 includes an end 410 whichcarries threads for engaging internal threads within the passage 222 inthe movable element 220. The positioning stem 400 also includes a firstlocator 420 and second locator 430. The first locator 420 includes asmall opening 422 located at one end of the positioning stem 400. Thesmall opening 422, which is shown in phantom in FIG. 4, is filled with afluid or a substance that can be seen by a scanning device such as theMRI scanning device 100 described and shown in FIG. 1. After a fluid orsubstance is inserted into the opening 422 the end is sealed with a capand adhesive. Similarly, the second locator 430 includes an opening 432which contains a substance which is readable by a scanner such as an MRIscanner shown in FIG. 1. As shown in FIG. 4, the first locator 420 andthe second locator 430 are coaxial with the axis of the cylinder formedby the positioning stem 400. It is contemplated that a first locator 420and a second locator 430 could also be formed in an offset position fromthe axis of the cylinder formed by the positioning stem 400.

Now tuning to FIG. 17, an alternate of embodiment of the positioningstem 1700 is shown. The positioning stem 1700 includes a chamber 1710which is substantially hollow and sealed at both ends by end caps 1712and 1714. A fluid, which is readable by nuclear magnetic resonanceimaging system, is housed or kept in the chamber 1710 of the alternateembodiment positioning stem 1700. Within the chamber 1710 is a firstlocator 1720 and a second locator 1722. The first locator 1720 and thesecond locator 1722 may, include a fluid doped with a different materialwhich is discernable from the majority of fluid within the chamber 1710by a nuclear magnetic resonance imaging system. The chamber 1710 with afirst doped fluid can be easily located and is used for rough alignmentof the positioning stem. The first locator 1720 and the second locator1722 are used to more precisely align the positioning stem 1700 so thatthe opening 222 within the movable member 220 is on a straight linetrajectory with a target within the patient. The positioning stem 1700includes a shaft end 1730 which is adapted to fit within the opening 222in the movable member 220 of the trajectory guide. Alternatively, thefirst and second locators 1720 and 1722 may consist of a solid materialthat appears on the MR image only by virtue of its absence of MRvisibility.

FIG. 18 shows the image that will be shown on the display 180 of anuclear magnetic resonance imaging system 100. The image 1800 comprisestwo rectangles which reflect the shape of the chamber 1710. Each of therectangles image 1800 has another image 1820 and 1822 therein. The image1820 and the image 1822 can be used to precisely align the positioningstem and the opening 222 within the movable element 220 of thetrajectory guide, so that the opening in the movable element forms atrajectory that intersects a target, such as 270, within the human body.This particular embodiment of the positioning stem 1700 is advantageousin that the main body of fluid within the hollow cylinder 1710 is moreeasily found and can be used for rough alignment.

The fluid filled openings could be replaced with small coils whichdetect a radio frequency readable by the scanning mechanism 100. Othertransducers could be used for other scanning systems. The differenttransducers or elements would serve as the first locator 420 and thesecond locator 430 in another scanning system. For example, in framelessstereotaxy, infrared cameras are used to locate various points in space.It is contemplated that the first locator 420 could include at least oneLED or light emitting diode readable by an infrared camera. Similarly,at least one LED or light emitting diode could be used for the secondlocator 430. Generally multiple LEDs or light emitting diodes arearranged in an array. Within the array, the LEDs or light emittingdiodes are positioned so that the LEDs are at least a few degrees apartsuch that the i camera can discern a locational difference. In anembodiment that uses LEDs or light emitting diodes as locators, the LEDsmust be positioned in view of the infrared camera

The first locator 420 and the second locator 430 need not be the sametype of readable transducer unit. For example, in an MR imaging systemthe first locator 420 could be an opening 422 filled with an MR readablesubstance while the second locator 430 could be a coil which detectsand/or emits radio frequencies. Both would be readable on an MR imagingsystem.

Movable Member

FIGS. 5a and 5 b show the movable member which will now be discussed inslightly more detail. FIGS. 5a and 5 b show that the movable member 220is substantially spherical in shape. The movable member 220 has anopening 222 therein. The opening 222 includes a smaller diameter portion223 and a larger diameter portion 224. The inside surface of the largerportion 224 of opening 222 is threaded as indicated by reference numeral225. The larger diameter portion 224 and the threads 225 receive theexternal threaded portion of either the positioning stem 400 or theguide stem 240. The smaller diameter portion 223 of the opening 222 isof a sufficient diameter to allow an instrument, such as a needle,probe, catheter, endoscope, or electrode to pass through the opening.The movable member 220 is made of a biocompatible material such asdelrin.

FIGS. 6a and 6 b show a side and top view of the base 210 of thetrajectory guide 200. The base 210 includes the cylindrical portion 212and the flange 214. The flange 214 includes countersunk openings 215,216, and 217 as well as the seat 218 which receives the movable member220. The seat 218 is part of an opening 600 which includes an internallythreaded portion 610. The internally threaded portion 610 is dimensionedso as to receive the threads of either the positioning stem 400 or theguide stem 240.

Now tuning to FIGS. 7a and 7 b, the locking member of the trajectoryguide 200 will now be discussed. The locking member 230 includes thecylindrical portion 232 and a flange 234. The external surface of theflange 232 is threaded to form a threaded external surface 700. Thethreads associated with the externally threaded surface 700 aredimensioned so as to engage the internally threaded surface 600 of thebase 210. The locking member 230 also includes an opening 710 whichpasses through the locking member 230. The locking member also has alocking surface 720. In this particular embodiment, the locking surface720 is flat so that it engages a flat face on the movable member 220.The flanges 234 are extended so that the threads of the threaded surface700 can be easily engaged with the internal threads 600 of the base 210.It is contemplated that other geometric shapes could be used for thelocking member and that other locking surfaces could be employed.

In operation, a patient undergoes a scan with an apparatus such as anMRI or magnetic resonance imaging system 100 as part of a normaldiagnostic medical procedure. A scan can be used to locate a particularorgan within a patient or to locate lesions or any other target 270within the patient. It should be noted that targets are not necessarilylimited to being within the head of a patient. There can also be otherareas of a patient where it would be critical to accurately place asurgical or observational tool. In addition, it should also be notedthat the patient need not necessarily be human. A patient may includeany living animal. Once a target is found and located using an MRI orother scanning system, the base 210 of the trajectory guide 200 can beattached to the patient. The base is affixed to the patient in an areanear the target 270. The computer 102 of the scanning device 100 is usedto determine the exact location of the target 270. The exact locationcan be found in any type of coordinate system, although normally aCartesian coordinate system is used. Once the base 210 is attached tothe patient, the remaining portions of the trajectory guide 200 areattached to the base 210. In other words, the movable member 220, thelocking guide, the locking member 230 and a positioning stem 400 areadded to form a complete trajectory guide 200.

The first locator 420 and the second locator 430 of the positioning stem400 are read by the scanning system 100 and a line defined by the firstlocator 420 and the second locator 430 is calculated by the computer102. The calculated line corresponds to the center line of the passage222 and the opening 242 of the guide stem. If the line aligns with thetarget 270, the locking member is used to lock the movable member 220into position. If the line does not intersect the target 270, thepositioning stem 400 is moved until a line is formed by the firstlocator 420 and the second locator 430 intersects the target 270. If thepatient and the positioning stem 400 can be easily reached by a surgeonduring a scanning operation, positioning stem 400 can be moved orreadjusted manually. If the patient is remote from the surgeon or cannotbe reached by the surgeon, a hydraulic or other actuator may be used tomove the positioning stem 400. Once such a line is formed the lockingmember 230 is secured.

After fixing the position of the movable member 220, the positioningstem 400 is removed, and the guide stem 240 is attached to the movablemember 220. Once the guide stem 240 is attached to the movable member220 the trajectory 260 is formed by the opening 242 and the passage 222.The guide is then positioned so that an instrument or an observationaltool may be placed through the guide opening to intersect the target270.

Remote Actuation and Control—First Embodiment

FIGS. 30 to 32 detail a mechanical remote actuation and control device3000. The mechanical remote actuation and control device 3000 includes afirst or actual trajectory guide 3001 which is attached to a patient anda second trajectory guide 3002 that is remote from the patient. Thesecond trajectory guide 3002 is sometimes referred to as the remotetrajectory guide 3002. The second trajectory guide 3002 is a duplicateof the first trajectory guide 3001. The first trajectory guide 3001 andthe second trajectory guide 3002 each have the same look and feel. Inthis way, the physician surgeon or technician using a remote actuationcontrol device 3000 only has to learn how one particular trajectoryguide, such as the first trajectory guide 3001 or the second trajectoryguide 3002, works rather than leaning the look and feel of both theactual trajectory guide 3001 and the second or remote trajectory guide3002.

Typically, first trajectory guide 3001 is attached to a patient that iswithin a scanning environment 3020. The scanning environment 3020 can bean MR imaging suite as described above or can be a CT scanningenvironment as will be discussed in more detail below or can be in anyother scanning or imaging environment. The second trajectory guide 3002is outside the scanning environment. Using the remote actuation controldevice 3000, a surgeon or physician can then manipulate the firsttrajectory guide 3001 that is within the scanning environment bymanipulating the second trajectory guide 3002 that is outside thescanning environment. In many cases, the first trajectory guide 3001 isnot accessible while the patient and the first trajectory guide 3001 arelocated within the scanning environment. Being able to manipulate thefirst trajectory guide 3001 by moving the second trajectory guide 3002positioned outside the scanning environment allows the physician surgeonto make necessary adjustments to the first trajectory guide 3001 withouthaving to remove the patient from the scanning environment. This savestime for the surgical procedure as moving a patient in and out of ascanning environment takes a large amount of time. In addition, sincethe procedure is shortened, the exposure of the patient to anydetrimental aspects of the scanning environment is also lessened. Inaddition, the physician surgeon is also not exposed to the scanningenvironment As an overview, MR and x-ray compatible cables 3030, 3032and 3034 are used to translate the motion at the second trajectory guide3002 or remote trajectory guide to the first trajectory guide 3001 whichis attached or otherwise associated with the patient. The term cablemeans any type of strong wires or other filaments that can translate themotions of the second trajectory guide 3002 to the first trajectoryguide 3001. The filaments or wires used in the device are made ofmaterials which are compatible with the scanning environment. Forexample,.if the remote actuation control device 3000 is used in an MRenvironment, the material for the cables must be made of a non-magneticmaterial as strong magnetic fields are used in an MR environment. Itshould be noted that FIG. 30 also shows the surgical instrumentadvancement assembly 3700 which will be more fully discussed below inthe description of FIG. 37.

Now turning to FIG. 31, the details of the first trajectory guide 3001and the second trajectory guide 3002 will be discussed. The firsttrajectory guide 3001 and the second trajectory guide 3002 are identicalto one another so rather than describe the same item twice for the sakeof saving space, only one will be described in detail. FIG. 31 is aperspective view of one of the first or second trajectory guides, 3001or 3002, used as part of the mechanical remotely actuated trajectoryguide mechanism shown in FIG. 30. The trajectory guide 3001 includes abase 3200, a movable element also called a guide stem 3300, a lockingmember 3400 and a guide stem cable mount 3500. The guide stem 3300 has aball or rounded end 3310 which is received in an opening 3210 in thebase 3200. The locking member 3400 fits over the ball end 3310 of theguide stem 3300. The locking member has an outside threaded portion 3410which engages an inside thread 3212 in the opening 3210 of the base3200. The ball end 3310 of the guide stem 3300 moves or rotates freelywithin the opening 3210 of the base 3200 until the locking member 3400is screwed into engagement with the ball end 3310 and the base 3200. Theguide stem cable mount 3500 fits over the guide stem 3300 and sits atopthe locking member 3400. The base 3200 has a plurality of recesses 3220,3222, and 3224 which accommodate the cables 3030,3032, and 3034. Whenthe locking member 3400 is engaged with the base 3200 the recesses arecovered in part by the locking member 3400 to form routing paths for thecables 3030,3032, and 3034.

FIG. 32 is a top view of the base 3200 of the trajectory guide 3001 usedas part of the mechanical remotely actuated trajectory guide mechanism3000. As shown in FIG. 32, the base 3200 includes an opening 3210. Theopening 3210 does not pass completely though the base 3200 but is rathera pocket for receiving the ball end 3310 of the guide stem 3300. Thebottom of the opening 3210 is chamfered so that the ball end 3310contacts the opening on a line about the ball end. The opening 3210 alsohas an inside threaded portion shown by the dotted lines 3212. Inaddition, the base 3200 includes the recesses 3220, 3222, and 3224 forreceiving cables. Three recesses are shown. It should be understood thatadditional recesses could be formed if the particular design requiredmore cables. In addition, it should also be understood that there couldbe a lesser number of recesses if there were less numbers of cables wereused. It is also conceivable that the recesses could be eliminatedaltogether and provided elsewhere other than on the base 3200. The base3200 also includes openings 3230,3232, and 3234 which could receivemounting screws or could be used to mount the base 3200 to any othertype of mount on the body of a patient.

FIG. 33 is a side view of the guide stem 3300 of the trajectory guide3001 used as part of the mechanical remotely actuated trajectory guidemechanism 3000. The guide stem 3300 has a ball shaped end 3310 and freeend 3320. Near the free end 3320 is a detente or groove 3330. The guidestem 3300 has an opening 3340 therein which runs the length of the guidestem 3300. The opening 3340 is dimensioned so that a surgical instrumentcan be received and passed through the guide stem 3300. The opening 3340is positioned so that it is coaxial with the trajectory to the target270 within the patient. The guide stem 3300 of the trajectory guide 3001is the moveable member which is moved so that the opening is coaxial oron target with the target 270 within the patient.

FIG. 34 is a top view of the locking member 3400 of the trajectory guide3001 used as part of the mechanical remotely actuated trajectory guidemechanism 3000. The locking member has an opening 3420 therein whichpasses all the way through the locking member 3400. The opening 3420 isdimensioned to allow motion of the guide stem 3300 so that the guidestem,3300 can be repositioned to align the opening 3340 therein with thetrajectory to the target within the patient. The opening is the insideof a tubular portion 3422 which has an outside threaded portion 3410.The locking member 3400 includes a disk shaped portion 3450 having alarger diameter than the tubular portion 3422. The larger diameter ofthe disk shaped portion 3450 makes it easier for an surgeon ortechnician to tighten the locking member 3400. The outer diameter of thedisk shaped portion may be provided with frictional edge, such as aknurled edge, to further enhance the ability to tighten the lockingmember 3400 with respect to the base 3200. The disk shaped portion 3450also has several large openings 3451, 3452, and 3453 therein. Theopenings 3451,3452, and 3453 provide clearance for the cables 3030, 3032and 3034 which pass therethrough and are attached to the guide stemcable mount 3500 which rests or sits adjacent the locking member 3400.

FIG. 35 is a top view of the guide stem cable mount 3500 of thetrajectory guide 3001 used as part of the mechanical remotely actuatedtrajectory guide mechanism 3000. The guide stem cable mount 3500includes a central opening 3510 which is dimensioned to fit over theguide stem 3300 with an adequate clearance to allow the guide stem 3300to pass but with a small enough clearance to exert a force on the guidestem 3300 when cables 3030,3032 and 3034 are placed in tension by movingthe other guide stem. The guide stem cable mount 3500 includes severalother openings 3520, 3522, and 3524 for receiving the ends of the cables3030,3032 and 3034. Each opening 3520, 3522, and 3524 is spaced a setdistance from the center of the guide stem cable mount 3500. Eachopening includes a larger diameter portion for receiving holding the endof the cable. Each cable 3030, 3032 and 3034 has an enlarged end forfitting within the openings 3520, 3522, and 3524.

FIG. 36 is an exploded perspective view of the mechanical remotelyactuated trajectory guide mechanism 3000 with the guide spacing sleeve3600 for spacing the surgical instrument advance mechanism 3700 up theguide stem 3300. The cables, filaments or wires 3030, 3032 and 3034travel within cable sleeves 3630, 3632 and 3634. Each of the cablesleeves 3630, 3632 and 3634 has a first turned end that fits within therecesses 3220, 3222, 3224 of the first base 3200 of the first trajectoryguide 3001, and a second turned end that fits within the recesses 3220,3222, 3224 of the second base 3200 of the second trajectory guide 3002.After the guide stem 3300 of the first trajectory guide 3001 ispositioned using the guide stem 3300 of the second trajectory guide 3002so that the opening 3340 is coaxial with the trajectory to the target inthe patient, the patient is removed from the scanning environment 3020.While outside the scanning environment, the locking member 3400 istightened to affix the guide member 3300 in place. The next step whilethe patient is outside the scanning environment 3020, is to add thesurgical instrument and the surgical instrument advance mechanism 3700(discussed in detail in FIG. 37). Initially, several spacers are addedfor the proper placement of the surgical instrument advance mechanism3700. The surgical instrument advance mechanism has a portion that locksor snaps onto the detente or groove 3320 in the guide stem 3300. A firstguide marker cap 3602 is placed onto the locking member 3400. The guidespacing sleeve 3600 is then placed onto the first guide marker cap 3602and over the guide stem 3300. The final spacer is a second guide markercap 3604. Once these spacers are in place the surgical instrumentadvance mechanism 3700 is placed onto the guide stem and the surgicalinstrument. The surgical instrument, the trajectory guide 3001, and aportion of the surgical instrument advance mechanism 3700 are thenplaced back into the scanning environment 3020.

FIG. 37 is an exploded perspective view of the surgical instrumentadvance mechanism 3700 for use with the mechanical remotely actuatedtrajectory guide mechanism 3000. The surgical instrument advancemechanism 3700 includes an advancement guide mount 3710 which locks ontothe detent or groove 3320 in the guide stem 3300, an instrument guidemount 3720, an instrument lock mechanism 3730, an advancement sleeve3740, a cable 3750 and a mechanism for moving the cable 3760.

The instrument lock mechanism 3730 includes atop instrument lock 3732, abottom instrument lock 3734, and a lock tube 3736. The lock tube 3736 isplaced between the top instrument lock 3732 and the bottom instrumentlock 3734. The exterior of the lock tube 3736 is surrounded andconstrained by the top instrument lock 3732 and the bottom instrumentlock 3734. The top instrument lock 3732 and the bottom instrument lock3734 threadably engage one another. In operation, the instrument lockmechanism 3730 is placed over the instrument. The top instrument lock3732 and the bottom instrument lock 3734 are moved toward each other bythreading one of either the top instrument lock 3732 or the bottominstrument lock 3734 into the other of the top instrument lock 3732 andthe bottom instrument lock 3734. The lock tube 3736 is elastomeric so asthe top and bottom are brought closer together, the elastomeric tubebulges and captures or locks onto the surgical instrument. This alsolocks the surgical instrument into an opening 3722 in the instrumentguide mount 3720.

The outer advancement sleeve 3740 is attached to the instrument guidemount 3720. The instrument guide mount has a second opening 3724 thereinwhich corresponds to the opening in the advancement sleeve 3740. Thereis also an inner advancement sleeve 3742 which is attached to theadvancement guide mount 3710 which locks onto the detent or groove 3320in the guide stem 3300. The inner advancement sleeve 3742 fits withinthe outer advancement sleeve 3740. The cable 3750 is attached to one endof the inner advancement sleeve 3742. Pulling or pushing the filament orthe cable 3750 allows the inner sleeve 3742 to move with respect to theouter advancement sleeve 3740.

The advancement guide mount 3710 includes an advancement lock 3712 and alocking pin 3714. The advancement lock 3712 has an end which fits intothe detent or groove 3320 in the guide stem 3300. The locking pin 3714keeps the advancement lock 3712 in place. After the advancement guidemount 3710 is locked into place it does not move with respect to theguide stem 3300.

The mechanism for moving the cable 3760 includes an inner sleeve 3762,an outer sleeve 3764, a syringe ring 3766, and a thumb ring 3768. Thecable is attached to one end of the inner sleeve 3762. By moving thethumb ring 3768 with respect to the syringe ring 3766, the inner sleeve3762 moves with respect to the outer sleeve 3762 and in turn moves thecable 3750-on the other end. Moving the thumb ring 3768 away from thesyringe ring 3766 causes the instrument guide mount 3720 to move towardthe advancement guide mount 3710. Since the surgical instrument isattached to the instrument guide mount 3720, the surgical instrument isadvanced into the patient. When the thumb ring 3768 is moved toward thesyringe ring 3766, the surgical instrument is withdrawn from the patientbody. The the thumb ring 3768 and the syringe ring 3766 are positionedoutside the scanning environment 3020 so that the surgeon or techniciancan control the advancement or withdrawal of the instrument into and outof the trajectory guide in the scanning environment. In the first oractual trajectory guide 3001 the outer advancement sleeve 3740 includesmarkings thereon indicative of units of measure such as centimeters,millimeters, or inches. On the second trajectory guide 3002 the theouter sleeve 3762 includes markings thereon indicative of units ofmeasure such as centimeters, millimeters, or inches. In this way thesurgeon can advance the surgical instrument from outside the environmentby moving the thumb ring 3768 toward the syringe ring 3766 a certainnumber of units of measure to get the surgical instrument relativelyclose to the target. The surgeon can advance the instrument to thetarget while watching the surgical instrument from outside theenvironment using an available scanning apparatus. The needle can beadvanced to just the exact position of the body organ.

It should be noted that this advancement mechanism can be adapted foruse with any base or for use with any trajectory guide. For example, ahydraulic mechanism for moving the guide stem 3300 from side to side,which is discussed below, could be used with this advancement mechanism.In addition, this advancement mechanism can be used with any base or onany variation of the trajectory guide.

Hydraulic Actuator for Remote Actuation and Control—Second Embodiment

Now turning to FIG. 10, a hydraulic actuator 1000 is shown The hydraulicactuator 1000 includes a cylinder 1010, a plunger 1020, a hydraulic line1030 and an attachment mechanism 1040. The plunger 1020 has a seal 1022located on one end of the plunger. The seal 1022 prevents the flow ofliquid from the cylinder to a position past the plunger 1020. When fluidis forced or fluid pressure is placed on the fluid in the hydraulic line1030, the fluid passes into the cylinder 1010. When more fluid is passedinto the cylinder 1016, the plunger 1020 moves in a direction to allowfor an increased volume between the seal 1022 and the bottom of thecylinder 1010. If the fluid in the hydraulic line 1030 is drawn awayfrom the cylinder, the plunger and the end with the seal 1022 movecloser to the bottom of the cylinder 1010 so that a smaller volume isformed within the cylinder. As a result, the plunger 1020 moves inresponse to fluid being pressed into the cylinder 1010 or being removedfrom the cylinder 1010. The attachment mechanism 1040 is used to attachthe plunger to the guide stem or other surgical instrument that needs tobe moved or adjusted. The attachment mechanism 1040 is attached to theplunger 1020. In this instance, the attachment mechanism 1040 is a hoopwhich can be used to encircle the guide stem 240. Other attachmentmechanisms could also be used such as hooks or clamps. The hooparrangement shown allows the guide stem to be moved or adjusted when theplunger 1020 moves in and out of the cylinder 1010. All of the pieces ofthe hydraulic actuator 1000 can be made of a material that is notaffected by a magnetic field. A hydraulic cylinder such as the one showncan then be used in an MRI scanning environment. It is contemplated thatother actuators could be formed and made from non-magnetic parts so theytoo could perform in an MRI environment.

FIG. 11 is a top view of a guide stem 240 of a trajectory guide 100which has two hydraulic actuators 1000 and 1000 attached thereto.Hydraulic actuators 1000 and 1000′ one used to move the guide stem whenit is remote from the surgeon. The attachment mechanism 1040 from theactuator 1000 passes around the guide stem of the trajectory guide 100.Similarly, the attachment mechanism 1040′ is also attached around theguide stem 240. The plunger 1020 and the plunger 1020′ are atapproximately 90° with respect to each other. Each of the plungers canthen move the guide stem 240 to adjust its trajectory toward a targetwithin the human body. Each of the hydraulic cylinders 1010 and 1010′ isattached or affixed to a solid base 1100. As shown in FIG. 11, both ofthe cylinders 1010 and 1010′ are attached to a base 1100 which is shownschematically. Any number of arrangements can be used to attach thecylinders to a base 1100. For example, it is contemplated that the base1100 could be the base 210 of the trajectory guide 100. It is alsocontemplated that the base 1100 could be a ring configuration whichholds the cylinders 1010 and 1010′ solid with respect to the guide stem240.

In operation, the hydraulic cylinders 1000 and 1000′ are attached to theguide stem 240 by the attachment mechanism 1040 and the attachmentmechanism 1040′. The guide stem 240 can then be moved by moving eitherplunger 1020 or 1020′. By moving these plungers, the attitude or thetrajectory of the guide stem can be changed before the locking member isused to lock the movable member into position. Once the hydrauliccylinders 1000 and 1000′ move the guide stem 240 to a position in linewith the target, the patient is moved to a point where the lockingmember can be used to immobilize the movable member. The hydraulicsystem described thus far is used to position the guide stem so that atrajectory may be selected.

Remote Actuation and Control—Second Preferred Embodiment

FIG. 19 shows a remotely controlled actuator mechanism which is used tocontrol the movement of the movable member 220 associated with thetrajectory guide system 200. To remotely control the movable member 220there is provided a duplicate or remote movable member 1920 having anopening 1922 therein. The movable member 220 has a series ofsubactuators 1950, 1952, 1954, and 1956 which are attached to themovable member 220 and have one end embedded in a base of a trajectoryguide. The base 210 shown in FIG. 19 is schematically depicted as a ringto which the subactuators 1950, 1952, 1954, and 1956 are attached.Attached to each subactuator is a hydraulic line. Attached tosubactuator 1950 is hydraulic line 1960, attached to subactuator 1952 ishydraulic line 1962, attached to subactuator 1954 is hydraulic line1964, and attached to subactuator 1956 is hydraulic line 1966. Thesubactuators 1950, 1952, 1954, and 1956 are positioned so that themovable member 220 can be adjusted in or about at least two orthogonalaxes. It should be noted, that only two subactuators are really requiredto produce movement about two orthogonal axes. Four are shown in FIG.19. Four are used since many of the movements are very small andprecise. Therefore it is advantageous to have one subactuator offsetanother subactuator to effectuate the precise, small motions of themovable member 220. The movable member 220 is associated with thepatient.

Attached to the movable member 220 and the base 210 is a duplicate orremote actuator 1970. The remote actuator 1970 includes movable member1920 and a ring 1910 or base in which the movable member 1920 is able torotate. Attached to the movable member 1920 are a series of foursubactuators 1980, 1982, 1984, and 1986. A hydraulic line 1990 isattached to subactuator 1980. Similarly, a hydraulic line 1992 isattached to subactuator 1982, hydraulic line 1994 is attached tosubactuator 1984 and hydraulic line 1996 is attached to subactuator1986. The hydraulic lines 1960, 1962, 1964, and 1966 are attached to anintermediary actuator device 2000. Also attached to the intermediaryactuator device 2000 are hydraulic lines 1990, 1992, 1994, and 1996.Within the intermediary actuator device 2000 the hydraulic lineassociated with a subactuator on a patient is attached to an oppositehydraulic subactuator on the remote 1970. In other words, the hydraulicline 1960 associated with subactuator 1950 is attached to hydraulic line1994 associated with subactuator 1984. Similarly, hydraulic line 1964 isattached to hydraulic 1990, and hydraulic line 1966 is attached tohydraulic line 1992. By attaching the hydraulic lines to subactuatorsthat are opposite on the remote when compared to the movable member 220,movement of the movable member 1920 mirrors movement of the movablemember 220. In other words there is a direct relation between movingmovable member 1920 on the remote device and moving the movable member220 associated with the patient.

FIG. 20 shows the intermediary actuator device 2000. The intermediaryactuator device 2000 includes a set of intermediate double hydraulicrams which are used to interconnect the movable member 1920 and themovable member 220. As shown in FIG. 20, hydraulic ram 2010 is removablyattached to another identical hydraulic ram 2010′, with identicalsubunits 2012′ and 2014′. Four hydraulic rams 2010, 2020, 2030, and 2040are thus removably attached to identical mirror-related hydraulic rams2010′, 2020′, 2030′, and 2040′, hence four double hydraulic rams. Onesuch double hydraulic ram will be described. The remaining doublehydraulic rams are the same. Intermediary actuator device 2000,including four double hydraulic rams, each of which comprises dual,mirror-related hydraulic rams, includes hydraulic rams 2010 and 2010′that include shafts 2012 and 2012′ respectively. On each end of shafts2012 and 2012′ are seals 2014 and 2014′ respectively. The seals 2014 and2014′ can also be thought of as plungers. The seals 2014 and 2104′ keephydraulic fluid on the away from the shafts 2012 and 2012′ and outsideof the plungers, 2014 and 2014′. For example, the hydraulic rams 2010and 2010′ have no or are devoid of fluid in the area adjacent tocylinders 2012 and 2012′. The seals 2014 and 2014′ maintain the fluid onthe outside of the cylinders 2012 and 2012′. Fluid is depicted by thegray areas on the outside of the seals 2014 and 2014′.

In operation, when fluid is forced toward the hydraulic ram 2010 in thehydraulic line 1992 due to a movement of microactuator 1982 (FIG. 19),the cylinders 2012′ and 2012 and the seals 2014′ and 2014 move in thedirection of the fluid pressure. In other words, when the fluid is movedin the direction shown by the arrow adjacent hydraulic line 1992,additional fluid is forced into the hydraulic ram 2010′ near the seal2014′ to which the hydraulic line 1992 is added and this forces thecylinders 2012′ and 2012 and the seals 2014′ and 2014 to move in thesame direction as the arrow. The other double hydraulic rams 2020/2020′,2030/2030′, and 2040/2040′ work in the same manner.

Advantageously, the intermediary actuator device 2000 provides a breakin the various hydraulic lines so that the movable member 220 and base210 are disposable, while the movable member 1920 and the base 1910which are used to control the trajectory guide associated with thepatient, can be reused. The intermediary actuator device 2000 is alsopart of the reusable portion. In other words, a new sterile movablemember 220 and base 210 as well as sterile hydraulic line 1960, 1962,1964, and 1966, and hydraulic rams 2010, 2020, 2030, and 2040 can beused on a patient. After the use, the movable member 220 and base 210and the hydraulic lines 1960, 1962, 1964, and 1966 can be discarded. Anew assembly including movable member 220 and base 210 and theassociated hydraulic lines and hydraulic rams can then be attached tothe appropriate mirror-related hydraulic rams 2010′, 2020′, 2030′, and2040′ of the intermediary actuator device 2000 for the next use.

Of course it is not necessary that hydraulics be used. A smallmechanical device can also work equally well. In such a design,hydraulics would be replaced by wires or other filaments that wouldtranslate the motion at the remote end to the device in are associatedwith the patient. An MR-compatible deflection device could also be used.The deflection device is a laminated composite material including atleast one piezo-electric layer.

Now turning to FIGS. 12, 13 and 14, a hydraulic system for introductionor insertion of a surgical instrument through the opening 242 in theguide stem 240 and through the opening 222 in the movable member 220will now be discussed.

FIG. 12 shows a clamp 1200 which is used to clamp onto one of either thesurgical instrument 1400 or the guide means 240. In FIG. 14, clamp 1200is attached to the surgical instrument 1400. The clamp 1200 includes afirst wing 1210 and a second wing 1220. The first wing 1210 and thesecond wing 1220 have an arcuate shape that conforms with either thesurgical instrument 1400 or the outside body of the guide means 240 Thewings 1210 and 1220 are spring loaded such that the wings 1210 and 1220tend to urge toward each other. One wing 1210 includes a C-shaped holder1212 and a P-shaped tab 1214. The C-shaped holder 1212 holds a portionof a plunger 1020 of a hydraulic actuator 1000. The tab 1214 provides anend stop for the plunger 1220. The C-shaped holder 1212 also serves tolimit the range of motion of the end of the plunger 1220. The end of theplunger has a disk-shaped end 1025.

Now turning to FIG. 13, there is shown a second clamp 1300. The secondclamp 1300 includes a first wing 1310 and a second wing 1320. The firstwing 1310 and the second wing 1320 are assembled such that the wingsurge toward one another. The shape of the wings 1310 and 1320 conformthe clamp to the outer body of the guide means 240. The clamp 1300 alsoincludes a holder 1312 which is used to hold the cylindrical body 1010of the hydraulic cylinder 1000.

In operation, the hydraulic system for inserting or introducing asurgical instrument 1400 into the trajectory guide 100 is used asdescribed below. Clamp 1200 is applied to one of either the surgicalinstrument 1400 or the guide means 240. The other clamp 1300 is appliedto the other of the surgical instrument or the guide means 240. As shownin FIG. 14, the clamp 1200 is applied to the surgical instrument 1400while the clamp 1300 is applied to the guide means 240 of the trajectoryguide 100. It should be noted that the clamps 1200 and 1300 are made ofa lightweight material and furthermore are made of a material that canbe used in an MR or magnetic environment. Once the clamps are put inplace, a hydraulic cylinder is attached to the holder 1212 of clamp 1200and to the holder 1312 of clamp 1300. The holder 1212 grips or holds theplunger 1220 while the holder 1312 holds the cylinder 1010 of thehydraulic actuator 1000. Once the clamps 1200 and 1300 have been placedand once the hydraulic actuator 1000 has been placed onto the clamps,fluid can be passed into the hydraulic cylinder 1010 or removed from thecylinder 1010 to move the clamps 1200 and 1300 with respect to oneanother. As shown in FIG. 14, fluid would be removed from the cylinder1010 via hydraulic line 1030 which would draw the clamp 1200 attached tothe surgical instrument 1400 toward the clamp 1300 on the guide stem240. This would result in an insertion of the surgical instrument 1400into the guide means and into the body of a patient. It should be notedthat the clamps must be lightweight so as not to produce an excessivetorque on the guide means 240 or the surgical instrument 1400. If toolarge a torque is placed on the guide means or the surgical instrument1400, the guide means may be repositioned out of alignment due to torqueplaced on the guide stem 240 or the surgical instrument 1400. Inaddition, it should be noted that it is not necessary to use clamps 1200and 1300. The holders 1212 and 1312 as well as the tab 1214 could beformed integral with the surgical instrument 1400 and the guide stem240. It is also contemplated that a pair of clamps could be used toprevent a torque in a sideways mode or bending mode. In other words, iftwo hydraulic actuators 1000 were used side by side, the surgicalinstrument 1400 would be less likely to bend with respect to the guidestem 240.

In an actual operation using the hydraulically controlled guide, theposition of the tip of the surgical instrument with respect to thetarget is monitored or tracked in real time using fast MR imagingtechniques, so-called MR fluoroscopy. The position of the plunger andtherefore the surgical instrument can be controlled through a precisionfluid pump in a remote location inside or outside of the MR magnet. Thiscontrolling mechanism can also be a manual control 1420, as shown inFIG. 14, or may be interfaced to a computer that may also control theadvancement of withdrawal of the hydraulic assembly can be bidirectionalfor the purpose of both insertion and extraction of a surgicalinstrument within a targeted tissue in the MR imaging volume. It shouldbe noted that a manual controller may include one or more hydraulicactuators. In other words, one may move small amounts of hydraulic fluidfor fine adjustment while the other may move large amounts of hydraulicfluid for course adjustment

It should be noted that two embodiments of remote actuation oftrajectory guides have been discussed. This invention covers many othertypes of remote actuation which could be substituted for either of thetwo embodiments discussed so far. In other words, variations could bemade to the two remote actuation devices discussed so far that would bewithin the scope of this invention.

The base 210 of the trajectory guide 200 can also be fitted with a stage800 as is shown in FIG. 8. The stage 800 is used to move the guideopening within a plane that intersects the center line of the trajectoryline 260 defined by the opening 242 in the guide member or stem 240 andthe opening 222 in the movable member 220. FIG. 8 shows an exploded viewof a stage 800 for attachment to the base 210 of the trajectory guide(shown in FIG. 2). The stage 800 includes a suspension tube 810, a firstor lower suspended platform 820, a middle or second suspended platform830 and an upper or third suspended platform 840. The suspension tube810 includes an outside thread which mates with the inner thread of thebase 210. The outside thread is located near one end 812 of thesuspension tube. On the other end of the suspension tube is anotheroutside threaded portion 814 which mates with inside threads formed inthe first or lower suspended platform 820. The suspension tube 810 has aflanged body which allows the movable member and attached guide stem 240to have freedom of motion within the suspension tube 810. The firstsuspended platform 820 is threadably attached to the threaded end 814 ofthe suspension tube 810. The first suspended platform includes gearedareas 822 and 824. The geared areas 822 and 824 mesh with geared areas832 and 834 of the second or middle suspended platform 830. The secondor middle suspended platform 830 is attached to the first or lowersuspended platform 820 via the geared areas 822, 824, 832 and 834. Theresult is that the middle or second suspended platform is able to movewith respect to the first suspended platform 820 in a plane thatincludes the geared areas 822, 824, 832 and 834. The second suspended ormiddle platform 830 also includes geared areas 836 and 838 which enmeshwith geared areas 846 and 848 of the third or top suspended platform840. The geared areas 836, 838, 846 and 848 allow the third suspendedplatform 840 to move with respect to the second suspended platform 830.The movement of the third suspended platform 840 with respect to thefirst suspended platform 830 is transverse in a direction transverse tothe movement of the second suspended platform 830 with respect to thefirst suspended platform 820. The stage is useful in allowing for slightadjustments when using the trajectory guide means 100. Sometimes whenthe trajectory guide means is used, the instrument 1400 is placed at thetarget within the body only to discover either that the target hasshifted slightly due to tissue changes, such as edema or swelling, orthat the anatomic target selected from the MR or other images is not, infact, the physiological target. In such situations, the trajectory maybe proper, however, it is linearly displaced slightly. By moving thetrajectory guide means in a linear fashion using the stage 800, thetrajectory is maintained. A parallel trajectory is thus formed so thatthe surgical instrument can be re-inserted into the human body and hit atarget. There are numerous types of gearing mechanisms that can enablethe stage to operate, with linear, curvilinear or other movements, toreposition the trajectory in a parallel fashion.

FIG. 9 shows a cross sectional view of a movable element 920 that has aball end 910 and a guide stem end 930. The movable element 920 fitswithin the base 210 and locking member 230. As shown, the movableelement 920 has a passageway 922 therein which traverses the length ofthe movable element 920. FIG. 9 also shows a positioning stem 400. Thepositioning stem 400 is dimensioned so that it fits snugly within thepassageway 922. The positioning stem includes the first locator 420 andthe second -locator 430 but has no threaded end. In order to correctlyposition the movable element 920, the positioning stem 400 is placedinto the passageway 922. The movable element 920 with the positioningstem 400 is moved until the computer 102 determines that the line formedby the first locator 420 and the second locator 430 align with thetarget 270. Once alignment is achieved, the locking member 230 is usedto lock the movable element 920 into place. Once locked, the positioningstem 400 is removed. Passageway 922 then corresponds or is collinearwith the trajectory 260 to the target 270 within the patient.

Computer Control

The remote actuators can be controlled by a computer program that, oncecalibrated, can be used to perform the alignment, and even theintroduction of a device through the guiding stem. Several methodologiesfor enabling this are available. Using the MR imaging coordinates of atarget, and the MR imaging coordinates of the two or more micro coils onthe alignment or guiding stem, a computer program can be written todirect the remotely actuated trajectory guide to align with the target.One essential component of such a software program is the ability of thesystem to accurately and efficiently measure both MR position on theimages and physical position in the bore of the MR scanner. Variouslinear transformations are required to correctly reference allpositional points of reference and achieve precise spatial registration.In addition, geometric distortions inherent in the MR images need to bequantified and corrected.

FIG. 21 shows a flow-chart of computer software used to implementcomputer control of the alignment of the opening 222 within the movablemember 220 with a selected target 270 within the body. The first step isto find the position of the selected target within the patient, asdepicted by reference numeral 2110. The position of the target 270within the patient may be in a coordinate system specific to thenuclearmagnetic resonance system and may have to be converted to anothercoordinate-system. For -example, a coordinate system associated with aparticular nuclear magnetic resonance imaging system may have to beconverted into polar coordinates or into Cartesian coordinates with an“x”, “y” and “z.” The next step is to find the position of one end ofthe passage way with respect to the first or second locator which isclosest to the selected target, as denoted by reference number 2112.Many times the first or second locator will be associated with orco-linear with one end of the opening 222 in the movable member 220. Atother times, the first or second locator will be offset from theopening. Therefore, the position of the first or second locator willhave to be mathematically moved or corrected so that it corresponds tothe position of one end at the opening 222 and the movable member 220.The next step is to determine the formula for a line defined by theselected target within the patient and the end of the opening 222 andthe movable member 220. Once the formula of the line is known and thedistance between the first locator and second locator is known, theexact position of the first or second locator most distant from theselected target can be calculated. If the most distant first or secondlocator is offset from the opening or a line co-linear with thepassageway through the movable member, this too can be mathematicallycorrected for. The next step is to move the movable member such that thesecond locator is in the calculated or determined position, as depictedby reference numeral 2116. After the second locator is in its determinedposition, the system checks whether the opening is aligned with thetarget, as shown by the decision box carrying the reference numeral2118. If the passageway is not aligned with the target, the movablemember is repositioned, or the step depicted by reference numeral 2112is repeated and steps 2114 and 2116 are repeated. If the passageway isaligned with the target, the program ends, as depicted by referencenumeral 2120. After the adjustment of the movable member 220 iscomplete, a clamp or other means is used to firmly affix the movablemember so that a surgical instrument can be passed through the opening222 in the movable member.

Base with RF Coil

FIG. 15 shows an attachment 1500 to the base. The attachment is flat,may be rigid or flexible, may be round or other geometric ornon-geometric shape. The attachment is designed to be screwed into thebase much like the locking component The attachment 1500 has a threadedend 1510 which engages the base member 210. Within the attachment 1500is a radio frequency coil 1520 for imaging the subjacent tissues byusing an MR scanner. Leads 1522 and 1524 from the coil 1520 are attachedto the MR scanning system. In the figure, the coil 1520 is circular, butit is not limited to that design. There are numerous different coildesigns that could be used to enable the detection of signals from thesubjacent tissues. Not shown in the figures are the typical preamplifierand other electrical components required to enable the coil 1520 tofunction. In one embodiment, these components could be designed on asilicon chip such that they are quite small and only two wires wouldneed to exit the attachment for connection to the MR scanner. In anotherembodiment, the electrical components could be physically includedwithin the attachment in a more traditional manner. In eitherembodiment, both imaging and spectroscopy of the subjacent tissue couldbe enabled in order to monitor the deliver of a therapy, such as a drugor a thermal therapy. In addition, the coil or coils included in theattachment could function in conjunction with a coil or coils on adelivery device implanted in the subjacent tissue as described above,when using the guide stem and movable member.

Turning to FIG. 16, a cap 1600 with a plug 1610 may be used to seal thebase 210 in the event that it is desirable to leave the base 210 inplace. Typically, the cap 1600 would include a plug 1610, so as to fillthe space of the surgical opening to prevent escape of tissues or bodilyfluids. The cap 1600 and plug 1610 can be attached to the base by anynumber of means, such as a threaded connection or force fit connection.It is also envisioned that the cap and plug could be used in conjunctionwith an implantable medical device, such as a drug delivery device, inwhich case the cap 1600 and plug 1610 might include a reservoir and pumpmechanism. In another embodiment, the cap 1600 and plug 1610 might serveas a connector to the drainage tubing of a cerebrospinal fluid shunt, inthe case where the trajectory guide were used to enable the placement ofa shunt catheter into the cerebral ventricles.

Small Incision Procedure

Currently, many surgical procedures are now performed through a twistdrill hole of approximately 2 mm. This is much smaller than the burrhole previously discussed above. If a 2 mm hole is used in a surgicalprocedure there is no requirement for a suture at the end of aprocedure. A drill hole of this small size can be made with a minorincision or scalp or upper body area and with minimal trauma. Many timesthe small hole approach is used when performing biopsies on areas thatpresent a relatively large target within the patient. In other words,the use of a 2 mm hole is typically used in applications where thetarget is relatively large. A fixation device is attached to a therapytable. The fixation device may include a flexible snake which are easilyrepositioned by hand or by remote control. Once a remote button isreleased, a snake retains its last position.

Initially as is shown in FIG. 22 a target is selected within the patientas depicted by step 2202. The movable member of the trajectory guide ispositioned near the body of the patient and near the target within thepatient using the snake to hold the trajectory guide 200, as depicted bystep 2204. The next step, depicted by reference no. 2206, is to alignthe passage within the movable member with the target within the body.This can be done using nuclear magnetic resonance imaging or a CTscanner or infrared lights or any other suitable means. The methodsdiscussed above are used in aligning the passage of the movable memberwith the target within the body of the patient. As shown in FIG. 22,step 2208 is to locate a first locator, and step 2210 is to locate asecond locator. The trajectory of the opening in the movable member isbased on the position of the first locator and the second locator, asshown by step 2212. The next step is to move the movable member 220until the trajectory of the opening 222 aligns with the target withinthe patient, as depicted by step 2214. Once aligned a twist drill ispassed through the opening 222, as depicted by step 2216. An opening isthen drilled within the body, as depicted by step 2218. The twist drillis removed, as depicted by step 2220 and then the surgical instrument ispassed through the opening 222, and through the opening within the bodyto the target. Another snake secures the guiding instrument, which willpermit passage of a surgical drill, a biopsy needle, an observationaltool, or other surgical instruments, a thermal therapy probe, or otherdiagnostic or therapeutic device into the body of the patient. The othersnake holds a clamp which holds a hydraulic piston which can eitherintroduce or withdraw the surgical instrument from a remote location. Inthis way, the device very easily can be used remotely from outside thebore of a standard MR scanner in order to introduce a surgicalinstrument to either a predetermined depth or to a point visualized onthe MR scan obtained, while the instrument is being advanced. Thissimple device can be used with great precision and accuracy. It has nospecific parts that are introduced into the body and can be used forrepeat intervention. The device is completely external, and the onlycomponent that is, in fact, introduced into the body is the surgicalinstrument itself.

The device should be fully MR compatible, as well as x-ray translucent.Initially, an alignment stem is placed into the guiding component. Thealignment stem is filled with fluid, but is easily visualized underroutine MR, CT, or other radiographic procedures. The fluid, for MRpurposes, can be normal saline or other fluid. For x-ray purposes, itmight be doped with barium or other such compound.

Procedures that formerly required many hours can now be performed insubstantially less amounts of time with the trajectory guide 200. Forexample, previously procedures to require considerable set up timeincluding MR or CT scan, computer reconstruction of data with fiducialmarkers, calculation of trajectory, placement of stereotactic frameapparatus., Now with the trajectory guide 200, these procedures can bedone in a matter of minutes. Furthermore the procedure is much moreaccurate and safer since the positioning stem can be seen by the MRI orother scanning device after the placement, whereas stereotactic systemshave only retrospective data and have no such capability afterplacement. In a stereotactic procedure, the calculations are done andthe placement procedure is performed based solely on the calculations.It is presumed to be accurate and there is really no way to determine ifa surgical instrument was inserted to the target or missed the target.If the target is missed, the set up steps must be repeated. In otherwords, the stereotactic procedure does not have the benefit of immediateor near immediate feedback with respect to the target being missed ormet. In the procedure described which uses the scan readable device,immediate or near immediate feedback can be obtained. The feedback comeswith the next image calculated in an MRI scanning system, for example.The procedure described herein is also more accurate since the target270 is also locatable by the scanning device 100 and the computer 102associated with the scanning device is calculating the trajectory todetermine if the line defined by the first locator 420 and the secondlocator 430 is collinear with the trajectory 260.

Many uses are contemplated for this new trajectory guide 200. Forexample, a surgical instrument can be used to access certain portions ofthe body of the patient. Using the head of a human patient as anexample, the trajectory guide 200 can be used to deliver an instrumentto an area of the brain for biopsy. An w instrument can also be used toaccess the ventricular area of the brain and cerebrospinal fluid forplacement of a ventricular shunt or drain. The trajectory guide can alsobe used to enable a neurosurgeon to perform ventricular endoscopy. Theinstrument in such endoscopy typically includes a fiber optic forviewing a portion of the brain. The instrument can be rigid or flexible.The trajectory guide 200 can also be used in treating or researchingvarious other disorders or diseases of the brain, such as Alzheimer'sdisease, multiple sclerosis, Huntington's chorea, Parkinson's diseaseand other neurodegenerative diseases. The globus pallidus is one key tocontrolling the tremors that patients with Parkinson's disease have. Insome treatments, electrodes are used to deliver electrical signals tothis organ to reduce or eliminate the effect of Parkinson's disease. Inaddition, a surgical instrument can be used to perform a pallidotomy(i.e. lesion the globus pallidus). Similarly, other targets include thethalamus and subthalamic nucleus. Depending on the surgeon, additionaltargets could be considered, including nuclear and nonnuclear regions ofthe brain stem. Another surgical procedure is the removal of tumormaterial in the brain. The tumor can be located and eliminated using aninstrument delivered with the help of the trajectory guide 200. Stillother procedures second arm 2320 has a handle 2322 on one end and a cup2324 on the other end. A movable member 220 with a passage or opening222 therein is held between the cups 2314 and 2324. The movable member220 is a ball or is substantially spherical in shape. The cups 2314 and2324 have a radius that is close to the radius of the substantiallyspherically shaped movable member 220. The cups 2314 and 2324 may alsobe lined with an elastomeric or other material to enhance the grippingof the cups on the movable member 220. It should be noted that the sizeof the movable member 220 is not limited to one size and that larger andsmaller spherically shaped movable members may require specializedsurgical instruments 2300 having cups 2314 and 2324 with radii that arenear the radius of the movable member 220. Located between the handles2312 and 2322 is a bias or spring element 2340. The spring element 2340is held in compression between the handle 2312 and the handle 2322. Thespring element 2340 therefore biases the arm 2312 away from the arm 2322which in turn biases cup 2314 toward cup 2324. The surgical instrument2300 is designed so that in the absence of a force which counteracts thespring or bias element 2340, the cups 2314 and 2324 will engage themovable member 220 to fix it in one position so that surgicalinstruments may be passed through the opening 222 in the movable member220. The spring element or bias element 2340 can be mounted on anarcuate portion which is attached to one of either the first arm 2312 orthe second arm 2322. The spring or bias element 2340 can be placed overthe arcuate member. A mating or receiving member can be attached to theopposite arm. The opposite arm also may include an opening for allowingthe arcuate member to pass through the opening. A stop is typicallyprovided on the surgical instrument 2300. The stop 2350 limits theamount of motion that can take place between the movable member 220 andthe cups 2314 and 2324. By limiting the amount of motion between thecups 2314 and 2324, the spherical movable member 220 cannot be removedfrom the surgical instrument 2300. This would prevent an inadvertentdrop of the movable member 220 during a critical portion of an operationThe stop 2350 can be incorporated within the bias are removal of lesionswhich are formed in the brain due to strokes or other medicalconditions.

Other Uses of the Trajectory Guide

Described above are procedures associated with the brain. There arenumerous other surgical procedures that can also be performed on otherthan the brain that would benefit from accurate placement of a surgicaltool. In particular, it is anticipated that cardiac and pulmonaryconditions will be ameliorated by minimally invasive therapies that canbe made possible with the trajectory guide. In such procedures, thetrajectory guide is more of a body portal and may or may not be used tolock into a specific trajectory toward a target. Moreover, suchprocedures may require use of more than one trajectory guide or mayrequire a multiple body portal configuration in which each of theportals include one or more trajectory guides. In such therapies,surgical instruments or observational tools may be inserted to enablethe surgeon in performing surgical procedures. Similarly, probes may bedelivered to specific targets or general targets by the trajectory guidefor the performance of cryotherapy, laser therapy, radio frequencyablation, microwave interstitial therapy, focused ultrasound therapy andother therapies. These therapies are all currently done on various partsof the body in conjunction with an imaging device, such as an MRscanning device. A CT scanner could similarly be employed. Thetrajectory guide makes delivery of the instruments to the varioustargets easier in all of these therapies.

FIG. 23 is a top view of a surgical instrument for holding a movablemember. The surgical instrument 2300 can be used for other surgicalprocedures as discussed above. The surgical instrument 2300 includes afirst arm 2310 and a second arm 2320. The first arm 2310 is pivotallyconnected to the second arm 2320 at a pivot point 2330. The first arm2310 has a handle 2312 on one end and a cup 2314 on the other end. Thecup 2314 doesn't necessarily have to be attached to the end of the arm2310 but may be close to the end of the arm. The element 2340, or can beincorporated at any location along arm 2322 or arm 2312, as shown inFIG. 23. In other words, stop 2350 limits the amount of potentialloosening of cups 2314 and 2324 with respect to movable member 220,while spring element 2340 maintains tension such that movable member 220is held in position.

FIG. 24 shows another clamp for holding a movable member 220. This clampis commonly known as a snake clamp. The clamp 2400 includes a snake end2410 and a jaw end 2420. The jaw end 2420 includes a set of two or morejaws which can be opened and closed slightly to allow a movable member220 positioned between the jaws to be moved. As shown in FIG. 24, thereare two jaws 2422 and 2424 associated with the jaw end 2420 of the clamp2400. The snake end 2410 includes a plurality of articulated sectionswhich are connected together to allow the clamp to be moved and adjustedand positioned to a selected position. The snake end 2410 includes aclamp for clamping onto an operating table or other fixed structure. Inoperation, the surgical instrument 2400 can be clamped to a table. Thesnake end 2410 can be moved so that the jaw end 2410 can be positionedto a desired location with respect to the patient. The individuals jaws2424 and 2422 can be opened to allow for movement of the movable member220 located between the individual jaws.

FIG. 25 is a top view of a platform or bar.2500 which holds a pluralityof surgical instruments such as 2300 or 2400. The bar 2500 is fastenedto a solid object such as a frame of a surgical table 2510. The bar 2500can be attached at one or both ends to provide a solid platform toattach surgical instruments 2300 or 2400 thereto.

FIG. 26 is a top view of a plate 2600 which includes a plurality ofmovable member 220. The plate 2600 as shown in FIG. 26 is attached to apair of human ribs 2602 and 2604. The plate 2600 has openings 2610 and2612 or fasteners that pass into the rib 2602. The other end of theplate 2600 has a pair of openings 2620 and 2622 which allow fasteners topass there through and into the second rib 2604. The openings 2610 and2620 are spaced apart such that the spacing corresponds to the spacingbetween the ribs 2602 and 2604. Similarly, the spacing between theopenings 2612 and 2622 are also spaced such that they correspond to thespacing between the ribs 2602 and 2604. The plate 2600 includes severalcups 2630, 2632 and 2634, each of which receives a movable member 220.The cups 2630, 2632, and 2634 may have different radii to receivemovable members having corresponding radii. Locking members may also beprovided which are used to lock the movable members in place. The plate2600 is contemplated for use in cardiac surgery, although it could beadapted for other uses.

FIG. 27 is a top view of a surgical instrument 2700 designed to grip orbe held within a burr hole a patient's skull. Burr holes typically havea radius of 14 mm. Currently, many surgical procedures are performedthrough craniotomy flaps or craniotomy burr holes. Needles or probes aretypically passed through the burr hole into the brain. The surgicalinstrument 2700 is typically used other surgical instruments, as shownand discussed with respect to FIG. 28. The surgical instrument 2700includes a first arm 2710 and a second arm 2720. The first arm 2710 ispivotally connected to the second arm 2720 at a pivot point 2730. Thefirst arm 2710 has a handle 2712 on one end and a tubular half 2714 onthe other end. The cup 2714 does not necessarily have to be attached tothe end of the arm 2710 but may be close to the end of the arm. Thesecond arm 2720 has a handle 2722 on one end and a tubular half 2724 onthe other end. The tubular halves 2714 and 2724 have an outside radiusthat is close to the radius of the burr hole. Located between thehandles 2712 and 2722 is a bias or spring element 2740. The springelement 2740 is held in compression between the handle 2712 and thehandle 2722. The spring element 2740 therefore biases the arm 2712 awayfrom the arm 2722 which in turn biases tubular half 2714 and tubularhalf 2724 toward the edge of the burr hole. The surgical instrument 2700is designed so that in the absence of a force which counteracts thespring or bias element 2740, the tubular halves 2714 and 2724 willengage the edge of the burr hole to fix it in one position with respectto the burr hole. The instrument 2700 also has a stop 2750 to limit theamount of motion between the handles.

FIG. 28 shows a top view and FIG. 29 shows a side view of a doubletinstrument 2800 which is a combination of the instrument 2300 of FIG. 23and a combination of the instrument 2700 shown in FIG. 27. Theinstrument 2700 and the instrument 2300 are attached to one another viaa common pivot axis 2830. The instrument 2700 holds the doublet withinthe burr hole in the patient's skull. The cups 2314 and 2324 ofinstrument 2300 hold the movable member 220 above the tubular halves2714 and 2724 of the instrument 2700 and above the burr hole in thepatient's head. Once the instrument 2700 is positioned within the burrhole, the handles of the instrument 2300 can be forced open so that themovable member 220 can be adjusted to a selected angle or trajectory.Other instruments can then be passed through the opening 222 in themovable member, between the tubular halves 2714 and 2724, and throughthe burr hole in the patient's skull.

Within some parts of a patient, it is critical to very accurately placea surgical instrument For example, in neurosurgery, it is very criticalto have instruments, such as catheters or needles, placed veryaccurately within the cranium or head of a patient FIG. 38 shows a sideview of a patient on which a trajectory guide 3800 is being used. Thetrajectory guide 3800 includes abase unit 3810, a movable member 220, alocking member 230 and a guide stem 240. The base unit 3810 is attachedto the skull of the patient. In the particular embodiment shown, theattachment is made by way of bone screws. A burr hole is not required inthe patient. In this particular embodiment, the movable member 220 isheld away from the patient's body such that a burr hole is not required.

The movable member 220 has a passage therein 222 which is shown in FIG.2 as dotted lines. The guide stem 240 also has an elongated opening 242therein. The opening 242 is also shown as dotted lines in FIG. 38. Thepassage 242 in the guide stem 240 and the opening 222 in the movablemember or ball 220 form a line or a trajectory 260 which, when the guidestem 240 and movable member 220 are positioned correctly, intersectswith a target 270 within the patient. The guide stem 240 and movablemember or ball 220 form the first part of the trajectory 260. The baseunit 3810 includes a seat 3818 or socket which allows the movable member220 to move freely. The seat 3818 is positioned away from a flange 3814on the base 3810. The seat 3818 is elevated with respect to the flange3814. Below the seat is an opening through which instruments may pass.The elevated seat 3818 and opening below serve as a substitute for aburr hole in the skull.

After aligning the opening 242 and the opening 222 to form thetrajectory 260, a twist drill is then used to make a small opening inthe patient. The twist drill is passed through the opening 242 andopening 222 along trajectory 260. After a drill hole is formed in thepatient, a surgical instrument or observational tool can be insertedinto the opening 242 of the guide stem 240 and passed through thepassage in the movable member 220 and through the drill hole formedalong the trajectory 260. Further insertion of the surgical instrumentor observational tool into the patient for a selected distance willstrike or place the tool near or at the target 270. The opening 242 inthe guide stem 240 and the passage 222 in the movable member 220 guide asurgical instrument along the trajectory 260 to the target 270. Ofcourse, the movable member 220 is locked into place by locking member230 before a surgical instrument 280 is placed through the opening 242in the guide member 240.

FIG. 39 shows an exploded isometric view of the trajectory guide 3800with a guide member installed. As shown in FIG. 3, the trajectory guide3800 is comprised of a base 3810, a movable member 220, a locking member230, and the guide member 240. The guide member 240 may be threadablyattached or the guide member can be made integral with the movablemember 220. The base 3810 includes a cylindrical portion 3812 and aflange 3814. The flange looks like a series of ears. Each of the ears ofthe flange 3814 includes a plurality of countersunk screw openings 3815,3816, and 3817. The countersunk screw openings 3815, 3816, and 3817receive bone screws which are screwed into the skull bone or the bone ofa patient. The flange 3814 also may include markings 219 used toposition the guide member 240. The base also includes a semi-sphericalseat 3818 on the end of the base opposite the flange 3814. The flange3814 is in a plane away from the seat 3818. Although not shown in FIG.3, there is an opening in the base 3810 having a first end whichterminates at the seat 3818 and another end which terminates at thebottom of the base 3810. This opening is essentially a substitute burrhole.

As shown in FIG. 39, the movable member 220 is essentially a sphericalmember or a ball. The spherical member or ball fits within the seat3818. The spherical member or ball moves freely within the seat 3818.The ball-shaped movable member 220 also has an opening therein 222. Theopening passes through the ball shaped movable member. One end of theopening may have a set of internal threads therein, which can be used toreceive mating threads which are placed onto the guide stem or member240 or positioning stem (discussed with respect to FIG. 40).

The locking member 230 also has an opening therethrough. The lockingmember 230 includes a cylindrical bottom portion 232 and a flange 234.The opening through the locking member 230 has sufficient space to allowmovement of movable member 220 when the locking member is in an unlockedor untightened position. Although not shown in FIG. 4, the bottom of thecylindrical portion 232 of the locking member 230 includes a set ofinternal threads. The set of internal threads engage a set of externalthreads on the base unit 3810 (shown in FIG. 7b). As will be detailedlater, when the internal threads of the locking member 230 are engagedwith the threads on the base 3810, a portion of the locking memberengages the movable member 220 to fix the movable member and the passage222 therethrough at a fixed position

A guide stem or guide member 240 is also shown in FIG. 39. The guidestem has an elongated opening 242 therein. The elongated opening passesthrough the length of the guide stem 240. One end of the guide stemincludes a set of external threads which engage the internal threads ofthe spherical, movable member 220. When the external threads of theguide stem 240 engage the internal threads of the movable member 220,the opening 242 is substantially aligned with the passage 222 in themovable member. The opening 242 and passage 222 form the first part orguide for the trajectory 260 to the target 270 within the patient. Itshould be noted that the movable member 220 need not necessarily be aspherical element, although the spherical shape allows the ball to havea universal joint type swivel action which is preferred. As mentionedpreviously, the movable element 220 and the guide stem 240 can be formedas one piece. This would eliminate the need for the threaded end of theguide stem 240 and the threaded inner diameter 222 of the movable member220.

In addition, the locking member 230 can be formed in most any shape. Aflange 234 is use full in that it allows additional leverage fortightening or loosening the locking member. Any shape capable of beingturned or placed into a locking position with respect to the movablemember 220 is acceptable.

Positioning Member

Now turning to FIG. 40, an exploded isometric view of the trajectoryguide 3800 with a positioning member 400 is shown. The positioningmember 400 may also be referred to as a positioning stem. Many of theparts of the trajectory guide 3800 shown in FIG. 4 are the same as thoseshown in FIG. 39. In the interest of time, a discussion of the commonelements will not be repeated. Several of the basic elements will benumbered for the purposes of this discussion. The difference betweenFIGS. 39 and 40 is that the guide stem or guide member 240 has beenreplaced with the positioning stem 400. The positioning stem 400includes an end 410 which carries threads for engaging internal threadswithin the passage 222 in the movable element 220.

Movable Member

FIGS. 5a and 5 b show the movable member which is used as the movablemember in the trajectory guide 3800.

FIGS. 41a and 41 b show a side and top view of the base 3810 of thetrajectory guide 3800. The base 3810 includes the cylindrical portion3812 and the flange 3814. The flange 3814 includes ears with countersunkopenings 3815, 3816, and 3817 as well as the seat 3818 which receivesthe movable member 220. It should be noted that the flange 3814 can beof any shape. As shown, the seat 3818 is in a plane substantiallyparallel to the plane of the flange 3814. The seat 3818 is elevated withrespect to the flange 3814. The seat 3818 is on one end of the base 3810and the flange 3814 is on the opposite end of the base 3810. Between theseat and the flange is an opening 4100 which includes an internallythreaded portion 610. The internally threaded portion 4110 isdimensioned so as to receive the threads of either the positioning stem400 or the guide stem 240. The flange 3814 may include a first archedbail 4410 and a second arched bail 4420 (arched bails are shown in FIGS.44 and 45) which are used to align the positioning stem 400 so that itdefines a trajectory 260 which intersects the target 270 within thepatient. It should be noted, that although the flange 214 is shown ashaving a triangular shape, the flange could be most any shape.

FIGS. 7a and 7 b show the locking member 230 as used in the trajectoryguide 3800.

Integral Guide Stem and Movable Member

FIG. 42 shows an isometric view of a movable element 4220 that has aball end 4210 and a guide stem end 4230. The movable element 220 fitswithin the base 3810 and locking member 230. As shown, the movableelement 4220 has a passageway 4222 therein which traverses the length ofthe movable element 4220. In other words, the passageway 4222 passesthrough the guide stem end 4230 and through the ball end 4210. FIG. 42also shows a positioning stem 400. The positioning stem 400 isdimensioned so that it fits snugly within the passageway 4222.

The various guide stems and positioning stems shown in FIGS. 1-42 can beused with any type of body scanner. The positioning stems can beprovided with MR viewable portions and positioned with the aid of an MRimaging device similar to the one discussed in the U.S. patentapplication entitled “Surgical Instrument Trajectory Guide Method andApparatus” filed Aug. 28, 1997 and having Ser. No. 08/919,649. The guidestems shown in FIGS. 1-42 can also be adapted for use with a CT scanner.CT scanners are widely available around the world.

CT Scanner

FIG. 43 is a block diagram of a patient scanning system 4300. Thespecific scanning system shown is a computerized tomography (“CT”)system. An CT scanning system 4300 includes a computer 4302. Thecomputer 4302 includes a central processing unit (“CPU”) 4304 and memory4306. The CPU 4304 and memory 4306 have the capacity to perform multiplecalculations used to determine images as well as positions of variousorgans, or portions or within an image field. The computer 4302 controlsan image data processing portion 4310. The computer 4302 alsoreconstructs an image along a desired plane. An X-ray tube 4320 ispulsed at many times per second. Across from the x-ray tube are aplurality of detectors 4330. Most commonly, the detectors 4330 are photodiodes.

The data is interpreted and placed on a display 4340 associated with thecomputer of the CT system 4300. The computer 4302 and the CPU 4304 andmemory 4306 can use data acquired from the CT system 4300 to build upimages of a portion of the patient which is being subjected tox-radiation. The images are typically referred to as slices. Forexample, a horizontal slice and a vertical slice can be made of theportion of the body or patient being imaged. The computer can alsorecalculate and build other slices for use by doctors and radiologistshaving any selected orientation needed to facilitate study of variousitems within a patient. For example, lesions can be found within thebody as well as certain organs. Different slices can be requested tofacilitate study of these targets. From the data acquired, the positionof the lesions or organs can also be very accurately determined using aCartesian or polar coordinate system.

In operation, x-ray beams of a computerized tomography scanner passthrough a human body or an object and are collected with an array ofdetectors; the beam is rotated to produce the equivalent of a “slice”through the area of interest. The x-ray information collected during therotation is then used by a computer to reconstruct the “internalstructures,” and the resulting image is displayed on a televisionscreen. This technique represents a noninvasive way of seeing internalstructures, and has in many ways revolutionized diagnostic approaches.In the brain, for example, computerized tomography can readily locatetumors and hemorrhages, thereby providing immediate information forevaluating neurological emergencies.

Basically, the scanner gantry is composed of an x-ray tube, an array ofdetectors opposite the tube, and a central aperture in which the person(or object) is placed. X-rays are generated in short bursts, usuallylasting 2-3 ms; the x-ray beam contains an “invisible image” of theinternal structures. The role of the detectors is to collect thisinformation, which is then fed into a computer. The computerreconstructs the image from the information collected by the detectors.In order to obtain enough information to calculate one image, the newerscanners can take as many as 90,000 readings (300 pulses and 300detectors). CT scanning devices are widely available throughout theworld. The above description of the CT scanning device 4300 is simplyfor demonstrative purposes.

For use with CT scanning system 4300, the positioning stem 400 of FIG.40 is modified by doping with a dopant that is detectable withx-radiation. The dopant can be a liquid carrying barium which is housedwith a tubular cavity of the position stem. The dopant can also be madewithin the material of the positioning stem. Since it is detectable, thepositioning stem 400 is viewable as a result of the CT scan. One dopantwhich could be used is barium. The entire positioning stem 400 orselected portions of the positioning stem may be doped so as to producea detectable image on the display 4380 of the CT scanning device 4300.For example, rather than dope the entire positioning stem 400, the ends420 and 430 of the positioning stem may be doped. The two ends of thepositioning stem could be detected by the CT scanning device 4300 andused to define a line corresponding to the current trajectory throughthe opening 222 in the movable member 220.

Now turning to FIG. 44, the further modification of the device shown inFIG. 40 will be discussed. The modifications provide for an alignmentinstrument which can be used where only CT scanners are available. Inthe alternative, if CT scanning equipment is available, it can be usedas an alternative to more expensive methods, such as MR scanning. Thepositioning stem 400 is doped as discussed above. A ring 4450 isattached to the cylindrical portion 3812 of the base 3810. The ring 4450moves with respect to the cylindrical portion 3812. Attached to the ring4450 is a first arched bail 4410 and a second arched bail 4420. Thearched bails 4410 have physical markings 4412 thereon. The arched bail4420 has physical markings 4422 thereon. At least one of the bails 4410or 4420 is also doped at least three points so that the three pointsdetermine a plane viewable on a CT scan The arched bails 4410 and 4420are secured to the flange 3814 with a fastener which can be securelytightened to prevent movement of the bail 4410 and 4420. The bails 4410and 4420 are also made so that they extend a distance above the movablemember 220 to allow clearance for the locking member 230.

Also for use with a CT scanning system 100, the positioning stem 400′ ofthe trajectory guide 200′, shown in FIG. 42 is doped with a dopant thatis detectable with x-radiation. Since it is detectable, the positioningstem 400′ is viewable as a result of the CT scan. One dopant which couldbe used is barium. The entire positioning stem 400′ or selected portionsof the positioning stem may be doped so as to produce a detectable imageon the display 4380 of the CT scanning device 4300. For example, ratherthan dope the entire positioning stem 400′, the ends 420′ and 430′ ofthe positioning stem may be doped. The two ends of the positioning stemcould be detected by the CT scanning device 4300 and used to define aline corresponding to the current trajectory through the opening guidemember end 4230 and the opening 4222 in the ball end 4210.

The first end 420 and the second end 430′ of the positioning stem 400′do not need to be doped with the same material. This may enable thecomputer 4302 associated with the CT scanning device to more easilydiscern end 420′ from end 430′. In this embodiment, the positioning stem400′ is inserted into the guide stem end 4230. The movable member 4220and more specifically the opening 4222 in the movable member 4220 ismoved until it is aligned to the desired trajectory 260 to the target270. Once aligned, a locking member 230 (not shown in FIG. 42 to moreclearly illustrate this embodiment) locks the ball end 4210 in place.The positioning stem 400′ is removed and the surgical instrument ispassed into the guide member end.

In still another embodiment, portions of the movable member 4220 aredoped with a dopant that makes it x-radiation readable and viewable.Movable member 4220 includes a ball as well as an extended guide stemend 4230. All or part of the guide stem end 4230 maybe doped. The endsof the opening 4222 in the movable member 4220 may also be doped. Theends could then be used in locating the line or trajectory 260 definedby the opening 4222. In this embodiment, there would be no real need forpositioning stem 400′. When the movable member 4220 is determined to beproperly aligned, the movable member 4220 would be locked into place andthe surgical instrument or tool would be passed directly into theopening 4222.

FIG. 45 shows the trajectory guide 200′ having a base 3810 that has aring 4450. The arched bail 4410 and the arched bail 4420 are attached tothe ring 4450. The arched balls are attached to the ring 4450 so thatthey can be rotatably moved with respect to the base 3810. The bails4410 and 4420 can then be rotated with respect to the ring 4450. Theattachment also allows them to be tightened so the bails 4410 and 4420stay in one position. The bails 4410 and 4420 are positioned so thatthere is clearance so the locking member 230 can be loosened to adjustthe position of the at least one of the bails 4410 or 4420. At least oneof the bails 4410 or 4420 includes a CT readable portion that defines aplane.

Preferably, one edge of the bail, 4410 or 4420, will be readable via CTscan. The edge of the bail 4410 or 4420 will be an arcuate line whichdefines a plane. The bail 4410 will have markings 4412 and the bail 4420will have markings 4422. The bails 4410 and 4412 would enable a personto reposition the movable member 4220 to make adjustments to thetrajectory guide so that the opening 4222 in the movable member alignswith the trajectory 260.

Method for Using CT Scans and Trajectory Guide

In operation, a patient undergoes a CT scan with a CT scanning device4300 to locate a particular organ within a patient or to locate lesionsor any other target 270 within the patient. It should be noted thattargets are not necessarily limited to being within the head of apatient. There can also be other areas of a patient where it would becritical to accurately place a surgical or observational tool. Inaddition, it should also be noted that the patient need not necessarilybe human. A patient may include any living animal.

Once the target 270 is found and located using the CT scanning system4300, the base 3810 of the trajectory guide 3800 can be attached to thepatient. The base is affixed to the patient in an area near the target270. The computer 4302 of the scanning device 4300 is used to determinethe exact location of the target 270. The exact location can be found inany type of coordinate system, although normally a Cartesian coordinatesystem is used. Once the base 3810 is attached to the patient, theremaining portions of the trajectory guide 3800 are attached to the base3810. In other words, the movable member 3820, the locking guide, thelocking member 3830 and a positioning stem 400 are added to form acomplete trajectory guide 3800.

Now turning to FIG. 46, as shown by step 4600, the positioning stem 400or 400′ is initially positioned. As depicted by step 4602, a CT scan isperformed to initially locate the positioning stem 400 or 400′ and thetarget 270. The line or trajectory formed by the positioning stem 400 or400′ is read by the CT scanning system 4300. The trajectory 260 isdetermined by determining a line between the end 430 or 430′ of thepositioning stem 400 or 400′ nearest the patient and the target 270. Thecomputer 4302 determines the difference between the trajectory 260 andthe line formed by the doped positioning stem 400, 400′. The computer4302 determines the adjustment that the surgeon must make to repositionthe positioning stem 400 or 400′ so that it corresponds to thetrajectory 260. The adjustment corresponds to the increments 4412, 4422on the arched bails 4410, 4420 attached to the base 3810.

The computer 4302 also determines the plane corresponding to the edge ofone of the bails 4410 or 4420. The computer can then output anadjustment that can be made by the surgeon or person doing theprocedure. Given the plane defined by the edge of one of the archedbails 4410 or 4420, the position of the other bail 4420 or 4410 can bedetermined.

The physician is instructed to leave one bail 4410 in a fixed position.In fact, one bail 4410 could remain in a fixed position. The edge of theother bail 4410 is moved to a mark 4412 on the fixed bail 4410. The edgewith the markings 4422 is moved to a mark 4412. The bail 4420 is thensecured into position. The surgeon then moves the positioning stem 400or 400′ to a mark 4422 on the second bail 4420 to reposition thepositioning stem 400 or 400′ so that it corresponds to the trajectory260. This series of steps corresponds to the step of adjusting theposition of the positioning stem so the trajectory aligns with thetarget 4604.

The instrument is then inserted using the guide stem. In the instance ofthe trajectory guide 3800, the positioning stem is replaced by the guidestem. In the instance of the trajectory guide 3800′, the positioningstem 400′ is removed and then the instrument is placed in the movablemember. The instrument is inserted to a selected distance into thepatient, as depicted by step 4607. The selected distance is the distanceto the target 270 along the trajectory 260.

Another CT scan is then done, as depicted by step 4606, to confirm thatthe instrument is at the target 270. If the instrument has not reachedthe target 270, the needle is inserted another selected distance (step4605).

The procedure for repositioning the positioning stem 400 or 400′ may bemodified slightly depending on the size of the target 270 and whether aburr hole opening will be made. The trajectory guides 3800 and 3800′ donot need a burr hole, but they can be used with burr holes. If a burrhole is formed, the contents within the cranium shift may shift slightlyas a result of fluid loss through the burr hole. If the target 270 islarge, such as a tumor, it may not be necessary to recheck thetrajectory 260. If the target is small, it may require a recheck of thetrajectory even if only a twist drill opening is made in the skull.

Frameless Stereotaxy Environment

In an environment where there are detectors for light emitting diodes(“LEDs”), the trajectory guide 3800 as shown in FIG. 40 or thetrajectory guide 200′ as shown in FIG. 42 can be used to accomplish Thisprocedure. FIG. 47 shows the positioning guide 400 of the trajectoryguide 3800 provided with two or more LEDs 4710 and 4720 which arelocated along the length of the positioning stem 400. Rather than usethe arched bails 4410 and 4420 to reposition the positioning stem 400,one or more LED detectors 4730 and 4740 are used to locate the LEDs 4710and 4720. The step of adjusting the position of the positioning stem4604 so that it aligns with the trajectory 260 to the target 270 isaccomplished by moving the positioning stem 400 manually until the LEDs4710 and 4720 form a line which is collinear with the trajectory 260.The computer 4302 determines the trajectory 260 by determining theformula for a line between the target 270 and the end of the positioningstem 400 closest to the patient. The positioning stem 400 is moved untilthe LEDs 4710 and 4720 are aligned with the trajectory 260. Thepositioning stem can be moved manually (directly or remotely) or byautomated control, such as under control of a computer. The LED'sposition can be determined by the detectors 4730 and 4740 at arelatively high frequency rate such that movement of the positioningstem 400 can be monitored in real time. Once the LEDs 4710 and 4720 arealigned with the trajectory 260, the computer 4302 will output a signalindicating that the positioning stem 400 is:correctly positioned. Thesame procedure would be followed for a trajectory guide 200′. Thepositioning stem 400′ would be provided with the LEDs 4710 and 4720.Once the positioning stem 400′ is correctly positioned, a signal fromcomputer 4302 indicates the correctly positioned positioning stem 400′.The movable member 4220 is then locked into position. The positioningstem 400′ is removed and the instrument is passed into the opening 4222in the movable member 4220.

Of course, this procedure may be modified slightly depending upon theparticulars of the procedure. The trajectory guides 200 and 200′ do notneed a burr hole, but can be used with burr holes. If a burr hole isformed during the procedure, the contents of the cranium shift slightlyas a result of fluid loss through the burr hole. If the target 270 islarge, such as a tumor, it maybe unnecessary to recheck the trajectory260. If the target is small, such as when the target is the globuspallidus interna, it may be necessary to recheck the trajectory beforeinserting a tool or an instrument to the target 270. Once the trajectory260 is determined, the instrument or tool is inserted a selecteddistance into the trajectory guide 200 or 200′. The selected distance isequal to the distance between the trajectory guide and the target 270.The position of the instrument or tool can then be checked usingx-radiation to determine if the tool or instrument has reached thetarget 270.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging Procedure

The trajectory guide 3800 or 3800′ can also be used in an MR imagingenvironment. In such an environment, the positioning stem 400 or 400′ isprovided with a dopant that can be read by an MR imaging device. Theprocedure set forth above for the frameless stereotaxy environment issimilar to the procedure used here. The MR imaging device is used todetermine the position of the positioning stem 400 and to determine thetrajectory between the portion of the positioning stem nearest thepatient and the actual target 270. The positioning stem 400 is movedeither manually or with the aid of a remote device. The positioning stem400 is moved until it is positioned so that it is collinear with thetrajectory 260 between target 270 and the end of the positioning stem400 nearest the patient.

The basic procedure set forth in FIG. 48 varies at a step 4604, which isto adjust the position of the positioning stem. When using CT scanningequipment only, the positioning stem 400 is adjusted using the archedbails 4410 and 4420. When the trajectory guide is used in an MRenvironment, the MR scanning device is used to locate the position ofthe positioning stem 400. In either environment, the positioning stem400 may be used in association with frameless stereotaxy, in which caseLED detectors are used to find the position of the positioning stem.Once the positioning stem is properly located collinearly with thetrajectory 260, the instrument is inserted through the trajectory guide200 or 200′ toward the target 270 to a specific distance. Another scanis then taken to confirm that the instrument is at the target. These arethe steps as shown and described previously and correspond to steps 4606and 4608 in FIG. 46.

FIGS. 10-14, 19-22 and 30-37 show and describe remote controlledversions of trajectory guides 200′ that could be used under MR guidance.

Burr Hole Externalizer Adapter for Other Tools

Turning now to FIGS. 48-50, the burr hole externalizer will be detailed.FIG. 48 is a top view of a burr hole extension apparatus 4800. FIG. 49is a side view of the burr hole externalizer 4800. The burr holeexternalizer 4800 is made of a tubular body 4810 with a set of flanges4820, 4822, and 4824 attached thereto. The tubular body 4810 isapproximately 1 cm in height. The tubular body 4810 has a height thatallows clearance between the tubular body and the tool to allowinsertion of the tool into the patient's body. The tubular body 4810 hasa flange end 4812 and a burr hole end 4814. The flanges 4820, 4822, and4824 are used to attach the burr hole externalizer 4800 to the patient.The flanged end 4812 is the end of the burr hole externalizer 4800 thatcontacts the patient. The burr hole end 4814 is positioned a distancefrom the patient's body. The burr hole externalizer 4800 basicallyprovides a substitute opening for a burr hole that used to have to bemade in the patient. The burr hole end 4814 of the tubular body isdimensioned so that it replicates a burr hole. The inner diameter of theburr hole end 4814 is the same as a standard burr hole. It should bepointed out that the Europeans have one standard diameter and the restof the world has another standard diameter. The burr hole end 4814 mayalso include an inside thread 4816 so that tools which thread into aburr hole can also thread into the burr hole end 4814 of theexternalizer 4800. It should be noted that an inside thread is notnecessary. Thus the externalizer 4800 can also be thought of as auniversal adapter for tools that normally are attached to a burr hole.

In operation, a physician/surgeon will initially position the burr holeexternalizer 4500 onto the patient's body. For the sake of example, thephysician surgeon will initially position the externalizer on thepatient's head. The burr hole externalizer is held in place usingseveral bone screws. The bone screws pass through openings in each ofthe flanges 4820, 4822, and 4824. A selected tool is then attached tothe burr hole end 4514 of the burr hole externalizer 4800. The toolattached can be a trajectory guide such as described above or such asdescribed in US patent application Ser. No. 08/919649 filed Aug. 28,1997 and entitled “Surgical Instrument Trajectory Guide Method andApparatus”. The tool can be any tool that previously required attachmentto a burr hole in the body of the patient. The advantages associatedwith using the burr hole externalizer 4800 stem from the fact that thesurgeon no longer has to make a burr hole in the patient. Not having tomake a burr hole means that the procedure takes less time. It alsoresults in less fluid loss from the spine and the cranium which resultsin less shifting of the target or contents of the head. In addition toseveral small bone screws, the only opening made in the patient's bodyis a small twist drill hole. A twist drill hole has a diameter ofapproximately 2 mm. This is much smaller than the 12-15 mm burr holepreviously discussed above. A drill hole of this small size can be madewith a minor incision or scalp or upper body area and with minimaltrauma. Thus, there is less trauma and less discomfort for the patientwhen the burr hole externalizer is used.

FIG. 50 is a top view of another embodiment of the burr holeexternalizer 4800. Most of the components are the same and are numberedthe same as the externalizer 4800 shown in FIG. 48. The difference isthat the flanges are replaced with a first headband 5010 and a secondheadband 5012. This produces four long legs when compared to theexternalizer 4800 shown in FIG. 48. Three elongated legs could also beused to provide adequate attachment of the externalizer to the patient'sbody. In the ends of each head band are openings for body screws. Thebody screws may not have to be used to secure the burr hole externalizer4800 to the patient. It should be noted that the embodiments shown arejust two examples of ways of attaching the burr hole externalizer 4800to the patient. There are many ways of stably attaching the burr holeexternalizer 4800. In addition, although a burr hole is normally usedfor entering the cranial cavity, this externalizer 4800 could easily beused for similar operations on other portions of the patient's body.Procedures that formerly required many hours can now be performed insubstantially less amounts of time with the burr hole externalizer andthe trajectory guide 3800.

Many uses are contemplated for this new trajectory guide 3800. Forexample, a surgical instrument can be used to access certain portions ofthe body of the patient. Using the head of a human patient as anexample, the trajectory guide 3800 can be used to deliver an instrumentto an area of the brain for biopsy. An instrument can also be used toaccess the ventricular area of the brain and cerebrospinal fluid forplacement of a ventricular shunt or drain. The trajectory guide can alsobe used to enable a neurosurgeon to perform ventricular endoscopy. Theinstrument in such endoscopy typically includes a fiber optic forviewing a portion of the brain. The instrument can be rigid or flexible.The trajectory guide 3800 can also be used in treating or researchingvarious other disorders or diseases of the brain, such as Alzheimer'sdisease, multiple sclerosis, Huntington's chorea, Parkinson's diseaseand other neurodegenerative diseases. The globus pallidus is one key tocontrolling the tremors that patients with Parkinson's disease have. Insome treatments, electrodes are used to deliver electrical signals tothis organ to reduce or eliminate the effect of Parkinson's disease. Inaddition, a surgical instrument can be used to perform a pallidotomy(i.e., lesion the globus pallidus). Similarly, other targets include thethalamus and subthalamic nucleus. Depending on the surgeon, additionaltargets could be-considered, including nuclear and nonnuclear regions ofthe brain stern. Another surgical procedure is the removal of tumormaterial in the brain. The tumor can be located and eliminated using aninstrument delivered with the help of the trajectory guide 3800. Stillother procedures are removal of lesions which are formed in the braindue to strokes or other medical conditions.

Other Uses of the Trajectory Guide

Described above are procedures associated with the head and brain. Thereare numerous other surgical procedures that can also be performed onother than the brain that would benefit from accurate placement of asurgical tool. In particular, it is anticipated that cardiac andpulmonary conditions will be ameliorated by minimally invasive therapiesthat can be made possible with the trajectory guide. In such procedures,the trajectory guide is more of a body portal and may or may not be usedto lock into a specific trajectory toward a target. Moreover, suchprocedures may require use of more than one trajectory guide or mayrequire a multiple body portal configuration in which each of theportals include one or more trajectory guides. In such therapies,surgical instruments or observational tools may be inserted to enablethe surgeon in performing surgical procedures. Similarly, probes may bedelivered to specific targets or general targets by the trajectory guidefor the performance of cryotherapy, laser therapy, radio frequencyablation, microwave interstitial therapy, focused ultrasound therapy andother therapies. These therapies are all currently done on various partsof the body in conjunction with an imaging device, such as the CTscanning device 4300. The trajectory guide 3800 makes delivery of theinstruments to the various targets easier in all of these therapies. Inaddition, the use of the burr hole externalizer 4500 further speedsprocedures that require the entry of tools into the patient's body.

FIGS. 51-55 show a trajectory guide 5100 which can be used as a bodyportal. FIG. 51 is an end view of a patient positioned within a MRscanner 5100. The patient has a body portal type trajectory guide 5110attached and positioned on their body. FIG. 52 is a side view of apatient positioned within a conventional MR scanner 5100. As shown inFIG. 52, the body portal type trajectory guide is positioned at an anglewith respect to the body of the patient so that the total overall heightof the body portal type trajectory guide 5110 will fit within theconventional MR scanner 5100. The movable element 4220, if positionedperpendicular with respect to the body, may interfere with the MRscanner 5100. Most certainly if the movable element 4220 is positionedperpendicular with respect to the body, a surgical instrument could notbe placed within the movable element 4220. A surgical instrument such asa catheter extends through a longitudinal opening or passageway 4222 inthe movable element 4220. When perpendicular to the patient, there wouldnot be enough room between the MR scanner 5100 and the surgicalinstrument being placed within the passageway 4222 of the movableelement 4220. It should be noted that the body portal type trajectoryguide 5110 may be equipped with a movable element 4220 or a guide member240 or a positioning member 400. The movable member 4220 is rotatablewith respect to the patient so that a surgical instrument may be placedwithin the movable member 4220 from any position the surgeon may takewith respect to the patient. In a scanning environment that has an openmagnet, an angled base is not necessary. The base for the body portaltype positioner could be made with a vertical surface or a surfacesubstantially parallel to the patient's body.

FIGS. 53-55 show the body portal type trajectory guide 5110 in moredetail. FIG. 53 is a side view of the body portal type trajectory guide5110 and FIG. 54 is a cutaway side view of the body portal typetrajectory guide 5110. The movable element 4220 includes passageway4222. The movable element 4220 also has a guide stem end 4230 and a baseend 4210. The base end,4210 is ball shaped. The body portal typetrajectory guide 5110 includes a base 5120 which has an opening orpassageway 5122 therein. The passageway 5122 allows the surgicalinstrument to pass into the body of the patient and to a target 270within the patient. At one end of the passageway 5122 is a cup 5124. Thecup 5124 is dimensioned such that the cup grips the ball end 4210 of thepositioning member 4220. The cup 5124 may also include portions whichextend beyond the largest diameter of the ball end 4210 to further gripthe ball end 4210 of the movable member 4220. The base 5120 alsoincludes an angled portion 5126 and a flat base portion 5128. The flatbase portion 5128 is circular and includes a first flange 5130 and asecond flange 5132. A plastic ring 5140 includes a finger 5142 whichengages the slot between the first flange 5130 and the second flange5132 of the flat base. The plastic finger 5142 engages the slot betweenthe first flange 5130 and the second flange 5132 so that the base 5120can rotate or swivel with respect to the plastic ring 5140. The plasticring 5140 is merged or attached to a flexible adhesive patch 5150. Theflexible adhesive patch is made from a flexible material which canconform to various body portions or parts of a patient. An adhesivematerial is placed on one side of the flexible adhesive patch. Theadhesive is placed on surface 5152 which is opposite the side of theflexible adhesive patch 5150 closest to the angled base portion 5126.The flexible adhesive patch 5150 is made of a biocompatible materialsuch as might be used to affix a colostomy bag to a patient or a similarmaterial. FIG. 55 shows an embodiment that includes a quick lockingmechanism 5400. The base is provided with a high pitch thread. Thelocking mechanism 5400 is provided with a matching high pitch thread.The locking mechanism 5400 is also provided with a single arm or knob5410 for turning the locking mechanism 5400 with respect to the threadedbase portion. The knob 5410 is positioned away from the patient so thatthe surgeon has easy access to the knob 5410. Because a high pitchthread length is used, the knob needs to be turned only slightly to lockthe movable element 4220 into position with respect to the base.

FIG. 55 is atop view of the body portal type trajectory guide 5110. Themovable member 4220 includes the guide stem end 4230 and the ball end4210 which is positioned within the cup 5124. The base is angled throughthe angled base portion 5126 and is attached to the flat base portion5128. The flat base portion is attached to the plastic ring portion51.40 which in turn is merged with a flexible body patch 5150.

In operation, the body portal type trajectory guide 5110 is used asfollows. Initially, the surgeon determines the approximate location ofthe target 270 within the body of the patient. An incision is made inthe patient near the target 270. The body portal type trajectory guide5110 is then placed over the incision so that the passageway 5122 in thebase 5120 is positioned over the incision that is made in the patient.The passageway 5122 is roughly aligned with a line between the targetand the incision within the patient The flexible adhesive patch 5150 isattached to the patient to seal the incision as well as to provide astable attachment point for the body portal type trajectory guide 5110.The movable member 4220 can be repositioned with respect to the cup 5124within the base 5120 of the trajectory guide 5110. The entire base 5120can be moved with respect to the plastic ring 5140 and the flexibleadhesive patch 5150. By moving the base with respect to the flexibleadhesive patch, a surgeon is afforded the flexibility to work from avariety of positions with respect to the patient and with respect to theMR scanner which is positioned around the patient. Initially, thephysician will roughly position the base 5120 with respect to thetarget. The base 5120 can be rotated with respect to the plastic ringand flexible adhesive patch to enable the surgeon to take any positionwith respect to the incision and the patient. The movable member 4222can then be moved to assure that the surgical instrument that will beplaced within the opening or passageway 4222 in the movable member 4220will intersect with the target 270. The movable member can be equippedwith RF micro coils to aid in positioning the movable member, similar tothose described in US patent application Ser. No. 08/919,649 filed Aug.8, 1997 and entitled “Surgical Instrument Trajectory Guide Method andApparatus”.

It should be noted that-the-body portal type trajectory guide 5110 willbe used when the targets 270 are relatively large. In other words, atrajectory guide 5110 can be used to take a biopsy of a liver, which isa relatively large organ. Thus, if the guide member 4220 is slightly outof position, the sample will come from just a slightly different portionof the liver but will still be valid. Although a locking member could beprovided, the body portal type trajectory guide 5110 shown does notfeature a locking member for the movable member 4222. The cup 5124 holdsthe ball end 4210 of the movable member 4220 tightly such that it willnot move under most conditions. As stated before, the body portal typetrajectory guide 5110 is used on relatively large targets 270 and,therefore, slight movement of the movable member due to respiratoryexcursion will not affect the placement of the surgical instrumentwithin the large target 270. Once the surgical instrument has beeninserted through the passageway 4222 and the passageway 5122 and to thetarget 270 and the operation has been performed, the surgical instrumentis removed. The body patch 5150 can then also be removed. By removingthe body patch 5150, the entire trajectory guide 5110 is also removed.The incision is then sewn or bandaged by the surgeon to end theoperation. The main advantages of the body portal type trajectory guide5110 is that the operation can be done relatively quickly in either a CTor MR environment. The body patch 5150 also keeps the area clear andclean. Operations that used to be difficult or impossible or used totake large amounts of time can now be performed easily and efficiently.

There are many other uses contemplated for the body portal typetrajectory guide 5110. The trajectory guide 5110 can be used to biopsyor provide therapy to organs in or near the abdomen or pelvis. Among theuses are liver biopsies, renal biopsies, pancreatic biopsies, adrenalbiopsies. In addition, some procedures require both a biopsy as well asa therapy. The biopsy needle is used first and then an instrument usedin therapy is substituted for the biopsy needle. The instrument forapplying therapy includes instruments for thermal ablation, andinstruments for providing shunts to various organs such as TIPS(transjugular interhepatic portal systemic shunts). The trajectory guide5110 can also be used to conduct biliary drainages, and used to conductother biopsies and treatments at or near the abdomen of the pelvis. Thetrajectory guide 5110 can also be used for procedures on the back andnear the spine of a patient. Nerve blocks epidural injections, facetinjections, sacroiliac joint injections, and spinal cordotomy are just afew of the procedures possible with the trajectory guide 5110. Non-braintreatments and biopsies in the head and neck can also be accomplishedusing the trajectory guide 5110. Trigeminal neuralgia can be treatedusing the trajectory guide 5110. Biopsies of the pleura, the lung, andthe mediastinum and removal of emphysematous to reduce the volume of thelung can be done percutaneously using the trajectory guide. Thetrajectory guide 5110 can also be used for fetal surgery such as fordiversion of fetal hydrocephalus, and for treatment of fetalhydronephrosis. These are just a sampling of the possible proceduresthat can be done using the body portal type trajectory guide 5110.Numerous other procedures will be accomplished using this device. Inaddition, the device will give rise to other future surgical procedures.

It is to be understood that the above description is intended to be,illustrative, and not restrictive. Many other embodiments will beapparent to those of skill in the art upon reviewing the abovedescription. The scope of the invention should, therefore, be determinedwith reference to the appended claims, along with the full scope ofequivalents to which such claims are entitled.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for determining a trajectory for aninstrument through a surgical device having a tubular body with a firstend and a second end, said tubular body having a seat therein, said seatpositioned near said first end, said tubular body having an opening insaid second end, said second end attached to a patient, said seat andsaid attachment mechanism separated by a distance, said surgical devicealso including a movable member having a portion which moves within saidseat and a positioning stem for moving the movable member, said methodcomprising the steps of: selecting a target within a patient;determining an initial position of said positioning stem; determining asecond position for said positioning stem, an opening within the movablemember aligning with a trajectory to the target, said trajectory definedby a line between the portion of the opening in the movable memberclosest to the target and the target; and moving the positioning stem tothe second position.
 2. The method of claim 1 wherein the step ofdetermining the initial position includes locating the positioning stemusing x-radiation.
 3. The method of claim 1 wherein the step ofdetermining the initial position includes locating the positioning stemusing light detectors.
 4. The method of claim 1 wherein the step ofdetermining the initial position includes locating the positioning stemusing magnetic resonance imaging.
 5. The method of claim 1 wherein thestep of determining the second position is done by a computer.
 6. Themethod of claim 5 wherein the step of moving the positioning stem to thesecond position includes moving the positioning stem using a remotemechanism.
 7. The method of claim 5 further comprising the stepsindicating when the positioning stem is in the second position.
 8. Themethod of claim 5 further comprising the step of indicating coordinatesfor moving the positioning stem to the second position.
 9. The method ofclaim 5 further comprising the steps of: removing the positioning stem;and placing a surgical instrument into an opening in the movable member.10. The method of claim 5 further comprising the steps of: removing thepositioning stem; placing a surgical instrument into an opening in themovable member; and inserting the surgical instrument a desired distanceinto the movable member.
 11. The method of claim 5 further comprisingthe steps of: removing the positioning stem; placing a surgicalinstrument into an opening in the movable member; inserting the surgicalinstrument a desired distance into the movable member; and locking thesurgical instrument into place after it has reached the target.
 12. Themethod of claim 5 further comprising the steps of: removing thepositioning stem; placing a surgical instrument into an opening in themovable member; and inserting the surgical instrument a desired distanceinto the movable member.
 13. The method of claim 1 wherein the step ofindicating coordinates for moving the positioning stem to the secondposition includes the steps of: indicating a position on a first bail;and indicating a position on a second bail; moving the second bail tothe position on the first bail; and moving the positioning stem to theposition on the second bail.
 14. The method of claim 5, wherein the stepof determining the second position of the positioning stem is performedat least in part by a central processing unit and the memory of ascanning device.
 15. The method of claim 14, wherein the scanning deviceobtains images through computerized tomography.
 16. The method of claim15 wherein the step of determining the second position of thepositioning stem further comprises the step of transforming a spiralscan to determine the position of the positioning stem.
 17. The methodof claim 14, wherein the scanning device obtains images through magneticresonance imaging.
 18. The method of claim 14, wherein the scanningdevice obtains images using frameless stereotaxy.
 19. The method ofclaim 14 wherein the step of determining the initial position of thepositioning stem further comprises the step of placing the positioningstem in a selected plane.
 20. The method of claim 14 wherein the step ofdetermining the initial position of the positioning stem furthercomprises the step of reconstructing the scan to the plane in which thepositioning stem is located.